Rolling Family

A large Argentine clan crams into a rundown camper to drive 600 miles to a family wedding in this amiable but slight comedy-drama from writer-director Pablo Trapero. A road trip filled with joy and—more frequently—frustration, the events here include a predictable breakdown and running out of gas, as well as a bad toothache that necessitates an emergency stop. And there are emotional conflicts: two husbands—sons-in-law of octogenarian matriarch Emilia, whose niece is the one getting married—quarrel bitterly when one hits on the wife of the other (an old girlfriend), while among the younger set, teenage Gustavo becomes the object of his cousin's affection, but prefers the friend she's brought along for company. Further complications arise when the abusive boyfriend of Emilia's granddaughter shows up on a motorcycle. On the plus side, Trapero's take on the characters isn't simplistic—they're flawed, complex individuals, and even Emilia, whom one might have expected to be a saintly type, occasionally comes across as obstreperous and manipulative. Unfortunately, while meandering to its destination, Rolling Family is too disjointed and episodic to be really worth the trip. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include a 21-minute “making-of” featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for an uneven film.] (F. Swietek)