The Squid And The Whale

Subtly hilarious. That is probably the best way to describe Noah Baumbach's The Squid and the Whale. Which means many won't understand the humor and file the film under the heading "weird". Weird seems to be the designation most offbeat comedies (or dramas or dramadies) get, though it is a senseless label. But that is not the point. The point is Squid is touching, despite the callous, rude way the family members interact with one another. With divorce so widespread these days, The Squid and the Whale will likely have just as many people connecting with it as those who dismiss it. Jeff Daniels shines, mostly due to the script, but his mannerisms onscreen sell the character the best. And speaking of the script, Baumbach, who wrote and directed, based this partially on his life as a child growing up with divorced parents, adding realism to the sometimes wacky actions of the characters. All this inevitably leads to the films ending, which is perfect once you understand it. At first, it may seem jarring, with the end coming out of nowhere, but there is meaning behind it. That meaning wraps the film up nicely if you just give it a chance.

Genre - Drama (3.75)

Screenplay (4)
Acting (4)
Production (3)
Directing (4)