Reviews

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  ★★★½ review by jose on Letterboxd

  I love dysfunctional family dramas. Hereditary lite

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  ★★★★ review by Michael Levi on Letterboxd

  "You guys smell like a dorm room"

  I decided not to see this in theatres as I read nothing but poor reviews. Turns out I kind of regret that because I sort of loved this film. The cast is great and likeable and the twists and turns in their lives keep it fresh throughout. It's heart warming and funny and I could easily watch it again.

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  ★★★★ review by Travis Lytle on Letterboxd

  Shawn Levy's "This Is Where I Leave You" is a well-assembled family drama whose foibles are played for good-natured, light-toned laughs. Moving away from the high-concept studio adventures and comedies for which he is known, Levy shows some maturation in his career with a film that is more restrained and more human than his previous spectacles. The result is a film that is funny, warm, and satisfying.

  Revolving around a family that reunites after the death of its patriarch, the story weaves together a series of domestic plot points involving sibling rivalry, familial black sheep, pregnancy, adultery, and late-life sexuality. The drama is recognizable, and the comedy flows naturally from the interaction of character and story beats. Moving but never overly sentimental, amusing but rarely silly, the film strikes its emotional chords with control and spirit.

  The production is small-scale and handsome, but Levy's cast elevates what might have been a forgettable affair. Jason Bateman and Tina Fey are more-than-capable in their roles, while Adam Driver injects an energetic magnetism in all of his scenes. Kathryn Hahn and Timothy Olyphant are severely underused in their supporting parts, but the two enliven the proceedings whenever they appear on screen.

  A sharp, engaging, and emotionally lively comic drama, "This Is Where I Leave You" blends cynicism with warmth for something that manages to put forth a mirthful edge and a bittersweet lilt. Entertaining and ideally cast, the film is a sometimes subdued, sometimes joyous look at grownup scrapes and lessons learned.

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  ★★★½ review by justinC on Letterboxd

  This Is Where I Leave You is quite often funny and very relatable.

  A film thats easy to watch with not to much to think about.
  
  It seems to flat line after the character introductions as far as the story goes. However the consistency of the humor is enough to make this a very enjoyable watch, one I wasn't expecting to like so much.

  Guilty pleasure I suppose.

  Shoot me :/

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  ★★★★½ review by nicole on Letterboxd

  “i’ve been chasing this idea about a perfect life, but life is unpredictable and irrational and complicated and i want a complicated life.” 

  i knew this was going to be a good film the moment i found out that two of my favourite actors (adam driver and jason bateman) were playing alongside each other as brothers, but i did not expect to love it this much overall. this is where i leave you is a truly wonderful and tearjerking dysfunctional family drama with the perfect amount of comedy and heart from its amazingly talented ensemble cast. i can definitely see myself watching it again. 

  also i loved those moments between judd and phillip where they would do the forehead thing that they said their father used to do with them. my grandpa on my mum’s side (who has now passed) actually used to do the same exact thing with me so seeing it on screen made me feel all warm and happy inside. it’s the little things like that that make the film so special.❣️

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