Movie Review - Everybody's Fine

My husband brought home "Everybody's Fine" (2009)  and I wasn't sure it was going to be my cup of tea. But with a cast including Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale how could I resist?

This is film is essentially about the complicated relationship in between parents and their children once they grow up. While the parents still see their adult children as small children and continue to expect a lot of them for the future, the "kids" struggle with their own lives, careers, families and issues while still trying not to disappoint their parents. Here comes the million dollar question: Do you lie to them, so they don't worry and are proud of you, or do you tell them the truth?

De Niro plays Frank, a father of four, now adult children, struggling to keep the family together after the death of his wife. As he was never the link that kept them together, that was his wife, he decides he needs to find a way to reconnect with his children . Once they all stand him up for a family reunion he goes on a road trip to surprise each of them, but what he finds isn't quite what he was expecting. The bottom line though, is that he just wants to be in touch with his children. He loves them regardless and just wants to be part of their lives. Be prepared for a couple of twists and turns and some tears.

This got me thinking about my own mother and how easy it is when you live so far away from your parents to lose touch with them. Not intentionally, but out of busyness and getting on with our own lives. So there you go... If nothing else, this movie made me call my mother today just to see how she was doing and to include her in my life.

Emotional, with some cheesy scenes, but a lovely movie. Highly recommend to any adult children! :-)