"KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Jami Gertz as JOANNE FIEDLER Daryl Hannah as SACRED FEATHER Garry Marshall as GRANDPA FIEDLER Jeremy Piven as ADAM FIEDLER Doris Roberts as GRANDMA FIEDLER Daryl Sabara as BENJAMIN FIELDER Rated PG-13 Studio: Miramax Directed by: Scott Marshall Back to DVD Review Home |  |
My first impression of “Keeping up with the Steins” was that it would involve humor based on the objectification of Jewish tradition. I don’t feel I was wrong in this assumption. Both the previews and the title itself suggest that this film is about one family trying to show up the Stein family by throwing a more elaborate bar mitzvah party. Well of course, I was wrong.
Ben Fiedler (Daryl Sabara) narrates for us the story surrounding his bar mitzvah. We begin at a classmates elaborate bar mitzvah party aboard a cruise ship. With their son’s 13th birthday around the corner, Adam (Jeremy Piven) and Joanne Fiedler (Jami Gertz) know they must plan a party that will upstage the Steins. What his parents don’t know, however, is that Ben couldn’t care less about the party and is more concerned about the public speaking involved.
The family is unsure if they should invite Adam’s estranged father (Garry Marshall) to the celebration, and so Ben sees the perfect opportunity to distract his father from the party planning. Taking matters into his own hands, Ben invites his grandfather, but changes the invite date to two weeks before the bar mitzvah. The hippie grandfather arrives with his young partner Sacred Feather (Daryl Hannah) and high tensions within the family ensue.
While Ben’s plan does cause some distraction, the party planning trudges along. Forced to choose a theme for his party, Ben randomly selects baseball and the party is planned for Dodgers Stadium. Meanwhile, Ben is wrestling with himself: trying to heal the rift between his father and grandfather, trying to overcome his fear of public speaking, and trying to understand what the bar mitzvah is really about. Ultimately, it is Ben’s last minute decision to change the party that unites the family.
Despite my preconceived notions regarding this film, “Keeping up with the Steins” is a heartwarming story with a moral. Unfortunately, the title creates the impression that the story is centered on the Battle-with-the-Steins plot that in actuality plays only a minor role in the movie.
The cast is chock full of big name actors. Jeremy Piven (“Entourage” [TV]) plays an excellent uptight father and lends a good amount of humor to the role. Doris Roberts plays a grandmother quite the opposite of the one seen on “Everybody Loves Raymond”: she deliberately keeps her nose out of everyone’s business and still loves the husband that left her decades ago. Garry Marshall (“Chicken Little”) is always good for a laugh, and Larry Miller (“For Your Consideration”) is perfect as rival Arnie Stein.
A number of features are offered on the DVD. Deleted scenes are available with and without director commentary, and a behind-the-scenes segment shows the making of the film. The movie can be viewed with commentary with the director and writer or with director Scott Marshall and father Garry Marshall.
“Keeping up with the Steins” is truly a heartwarming movie great for family viewing; however, one should consider the PG-13 label before watching this with the little ones. Minimal nudity and alcohol experimentation by minors are the only elements of concern. The film can also be educational regarding the Jewish faith. Parents and children of all ages would enjoy this film; however, if you do not fall into one of these categories, it may not be your cup of tea.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen (1.85:1). English and Spanish Language Track. French Subtitles.
