The Family Tree

This comedy directed by Vivi Friedman centers on that staple of American indie cinema, the dysfunctional family, embodied here by the Burnetts: wife Bunnie (Hope Davis), husband Jack (Dermot Mulroney), and their teenage twins, Bible-toting Eric (Max Thieriot) and promiscuous Kelly (Britt Robertson). Davis's Bunnie is quite appealing—at least after she wakes up with amnesia (caused by a mishap during an affair with a neighbor), which triggers a sudden burst of innocence and optimism—a complete change from the jaded, judgmental, and utterly miserable woman in the opening scenes. But for the most part, The Family Tree is a muddle of sloppy social satire, aggressively eccentric characters (Keith Carradine as a gun-loving reverend), aimless subplots, and trite caricatures of teen rebellion—all misguided elements in the movie's attempt to nudge the Burnetts toward a closer union. Unfortunately, the terrific cast—including Chi McBride as Simon (Bunnie's tryst partner), and Christina Hendricks as Simon's secretary—can't help this bland, blank film, a comedy so generic that it plays like a bad sitcom. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Building a Family Tree” making-of featurette (10 min.), behind-the-scenes footage (10 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Axmaker)