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Keeping Up With The Steins (2006)
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Synopsis: While intending to bridge the gap between boyhood and manhood, bar mitzvahs can often more closely resemble extravagant sweet-sixteen parties than actual religious ceremonies. It is this trend that forms the basis of KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS, a family comedy about what happens when a... While intending to bridge the gap between boyhood and manhood, bar mitzvahs can often more closely resemble extravagant sweet-sixteen parties than actual religious ceremonies. It is this trend that forms the basis of KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS, a family comedy about what happens when a Hollywood agent uses his son's bar mitzvah as a vehicle for outspending his nemesis. Jeremy Piven perfectly inhabits the role of Adam Fiedler, a character strikingly similar to that of his star turn as Ari Gold on the HBO series ENTOURAGE. Energetic and fast-talking, Adam approaches his son Benjamin's bar mitzvah in the same way he deals with business, stopping at nothing to make his son's party more excessive than anything thrown by the competition. But will this conspicuous spending achieve anything, aside from alienating Adam's son (SPY KIDS' Daryl Sabara) and wife (Jami Gertz), and making Adam look like a fool? Through Benjamin's voiceovers, we learn that he is not only against such an elaborate affair, but is terrified of having to master Hebrew in time for the ceremony. While Adam craves the limelight associated with such an event, Benjamin would rather not be the center of attention. Wise beyond his years, Benjamin decides to use the event as a means to reunite his father with his estranged grandfather, Irwin (Garry Marshall). KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS explores ideas of growth, with the film's 13-year-old protagonist Benjamin displaying more maturity than most of the adults in the film. Directed by Scott Marshall, the film, while sometimes predictable, benefits from a star-studded cast (including Doris Roberts, Cheryl Hines, and Daryl Hannah) and a well-written script. A coming-of-age story filled with Jewish humor, the film should appeal to viewers of all ages. [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Jeremy Piven, Jami Gertz, Daryl Hannah, Cheryl Hines, Garry Marshall
Screenwriter: Mark Zakarin
Producer: David Scharf, A.D. Oppenheim
Composer: John Debney
DVD Info
Release:
Jul 10, 2008
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
- Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1 - English, Spanish
- Subtitles - French - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Commentaries - 1. Scott Marshall - Director, Mark Zakarin - Writer/Producer
- 2. Scott Marshall - Director, Garry Marshall - Actor
- Featurettes - 1. KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS: Behind-The-Scenes
- 2. Deleted Scenes
Reviews
Will it all turn out? What do you think? Part of the fun is in watching how, although one's enjoyment of the movie will depend on many factors. Comedy, of course, is a very subjective medium; what some find hilarious, others won't. At the screening I atte
... the comedy is too timid to really make much of a satirical statement.
a stiff would-be comedy filled with talented stars and very few laughs.
Entertaining on all three levels: as Jewish comedy, as Jewish satire and as universal comedy
A long slog of family cliché and idiotic coming-of-age yuks thrown at us with the subtlety of a naked Garry Marshall.
Although there is nothing offensive about the film, there is nothing particularly amusing or enlightening about it, either.
Aside from the first 15 minutes and the last five or so, the film just isn't very funny.
Keeping Up With the Steins isn't a bad film -- it just devolves into the limp sort of schmaltzy conclusion you keep hoping it will avoid.
...you don't have to be Jewish to have fun with Keeping Up With the Steins, but it couldn't hurt.
A toothless commentary on suburban jealousy, with familial strain mixed in at random.
Squanders a premise that's filled with comic gold by playing it too safe.
a sometimes charming, completely predictable comedy that might be the pilot episode for a TV series you will forget to watch every week.
Hollywood nepotism is served up with the gefilte fish in a stunningly unfunny bar mitzvah comedy.
The life lessons tossed around like seeds aren't especially original, earthshaking or inspiring.
Think of this benign, not-so-kosher cultural comedy as "My Big Fat Jewish Bar Mitzvah."
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