The Meyerowitz Stories

Schon immer dachte ich, wie es wäre, wenn Adam Sandler und Ben Stiller (zwei ewigen Komödien-Rivalen des Hollywoods) zusammenkommen und zwei Hauptrollen in einem Film darstellen. Meine Vorstellung ist Wirklichkeit geworden… und es ist nichts Besonderes. Es handelt sich eher um ein Drama statt um eine Komödie, was nicht unbedingt einen Schaden einrichten muss. Ben und Adam geben hier das Beste, was sie als Dramadarsteller schaffen können. Ben spielt eine Person, die offensichtlich zeigt, dass alles, irgendwie ohne es gemerkt zu haben, an ihm vorbei geht und er reagiert gar nicht. Adam spielt einen Mega-Exzentriker. Bei beiden nimmt in gewissen Momenten der Humor seinen Anlauf, aber danach wird er plötzlich gestoppt und es überwiegt wieder ein Familiendrama. Für Filmliebhaber ist es sicher ein interessanter Streifen, die Dialoge zwischen Adam und Ben habe ich buchstäblich genossen, für die Beiden wünschte ich mir aber ein besseres unterhaltsameres Thema. (26.05.2020)

Jewish masterpiece, eine genial geschliffene Kante zwischen einer Tragödie und einer Komödie, unglaubliche Schauspielleistungen von Stiller, Sandler und dem Patriarchen Hoffman. Noah Baumbach ist ein neuer (und anderer) Woody Allen. (27.05.2017)

If the second half didn't turn into an annoying scheme a la “we are looking for a way to each other after decades by whining, shouting and confrontation", when nothing else can be heard despite the deafening rustle of paper, it could have been a modern "Allen style non-Allen" classic movie. After all, it looks like this in the first two chapters, because the dialogs are sharp, acting is brilliant (especially Hoffman, who has not had such a grateful role in years and he clearly enjoys it and that Sandler and Stiller are good at acting if there is a good role can hardly surprise anyone) and it manages to outline the relationships in one dysfunctional large family in such a way that you can safely recognize those from your surroundings. It´s funny, apt and biting. But then Baumbach takes all the space for Hoffman, the supporting characters cease to be vivid anymore and become almost caricatures of themselves. The driving force should be the mentioned hunt for family catharsis, which no one wants (especially the viewer) showing more conclusions than The return of the king had and they all fade away. So, the movie is at first exceptionally good and then extremely average. (14.10.2017)

The episodic structure blends very nicely into a convincing-sounding account of two generations of a peculiar family, but I can't shake the feeling that this film is a somewhat defiant adversary that few viewers will be able to face in the ring. The characters are simply weird and deal with things that are hard to relate to and impossible (at least at first) to fully understand. Anyway, I applaud the amazing actors and the aforementioned tragicomic straddling that worked simply great. I will sure give it another chance. 70% (08.12.2017)

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) is funny in a specific, nostalgic kind of way, where every character, or at least the main character, is disturbed in some way, but trying to live as best they can. The cast is great and it's surprising how natural the actors are, even if they do overact a bit at times. (06.02.2018)