FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Meyerowitz Stories
MPAA Rating: TV-MA
Director: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Adam Sandler, Grace Van Patten, Dustin Hoffman
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

What It Is: Harold Meyerowitz is a sculptor and the patriarch of his family. Between his two sons Danny (Sandler) and Matthew (Ben Stiller) and his daughter Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) this is a family chock full of dysfunction. From Danny’s recent marital issues and his daughter Eliza (Van Patten) leaving for college at the very same university, her grandfather was once a professor before his retirement. Matthew works too much and rarely sees his son. Meanwhile Jean drifts through life almost aimlessly. These are the Meyerowitz and these are their stories both new and selected.

What We Think: What a great film. I’m a big fan of Noah Baumbach’s filmography. From his early work like The Squid and the Whale to his most recent work like Mistress America he usually brings some twee hipster sensibility to somewhat relatable human stories. He does the same here and gets the best anyone’s gotten out of Adam Sandler since Paul Thomas Anderson. This is probably the best Netflix original I’ve ever seen. It’s funny, poignant and super real. I loved this movie and it continues Baumbach’s excellence.

Our Grade: A, Do I recommend this? Duh! I think this is a great introductory Baumbach for audiences who are uninitiated. Whoever is willing to take the chance on Adam Sandler will find an incredible story of a family not so much unlike yours or mine. Grace Van Patten was in two of Netflix’ best films in 2017 this and Tramps. Looking forward to more from her. Dustin Hoffman still has it and he gives us some good stuff here. Check this one out if you get the chance I mean it is on Netflix so it shouldn’t be hard.