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     This movie was a touch darker than I had anticipated so I enjoyed it much more the 2nd time around. This movie is creative, well written and well acted.

     This film follows a family, the Tenebaums, thru years of change.  First, Royal, played by Gene Hackman is asked to leave the house for infidelity.   His three children are left to be raised by their mother, Houston.  The three are all geniuses.  The first is a financial wizard, Ben Stiller.  The second is a tennis pro, Luke Wilson.  The last is a prize winning playwright, Paltrow.  Years later, the family of four is rejoined by their father when he runs out of money.  Hackman does his best to try to win back the family he lost years before, and also tries to win back Houston from her new love interest, Glover.

     The reason it doesn't get the full 4 stars is because it's slow at times. However, Gene Hackman couldn't have done a better job. Ben Stiller also shines in his role as the adult anal retentive son, Chaz. In fact, everyone does a great job. My favorite scenes are those at Owen Wilson's place for sheer random humor, and those with Gene Hackman and Danny Glover. The two play quite well off each other and I like seeing Glover in such a different role for him. I'm used to his tough guy, old crusty cop roles or over the top mean roles like The Color Purple. Here he's mild mannered, even meek. It's a good change.

      Angelica Houston was great, as usual. The cinematography is beautiful and really adds to the humor and the overall feeling of some scenes. The music is well chosen and like the cinematography, adds to each scene a little something extra. Luke Wilson's shining moment comes during a flashback scene to him playing tennis. Again, this is perfectly executed and left me laughing in the aisles. Overall I would say this movie is great and the only people who won't enjoy it are those who can't appreciate dark comedies.