The Family Fang

Actor-director Jason Bateman's acidic comedy based on Kevin Wilson's 2011 novel centers on how the eccentricities of parents can afflict their children. Bateman stars with Nicole Kidman as Baxter and Annie Fang, siblings who as children were forced to participate in public sketches devised by their father Caleb (Christopher Walken) and mother Camille (Maryann Plunkett), guerilla performance artists who built a career out of drawing unsuspecting observers into the action and recording their outraged reactions. After a strained family reunion, Caleb and Camille go missing, the possible victims of a serial killer. Have they actually been murdered, or is their disappearance just an elaborate publicity stunt designed to resuscitate their fame? As Baxter and Annie search for answers, they also learn to leave old traumas behind and embrace the future. The overarching theme—the toll that parents' obsessions can take on their hapless children—is conveyed expertly through sharp dialogue, nimble direction, and strong performances from the four leads, who maintain a fine balance between the serious and the darkly comedic. A surprisingly biting and enjoyable film, this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director and star Jason Bateman. Bottom line: a small extras package for a winning below-the-radar film. (F. Swietek)