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Jan Wahl Movie Review: 'The Family'

"The Family"
(L-R) Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Dianna Agron & John D'Leo in "The Family" (credit: Relativity Media)

 

(KCBS) — KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl reviews "The Family", about a mob family relocated to France as part of the Witness Protection Program.

KCBS Entertainment Reporter Jan Wahl:

Jan Wahl Movie Review: The Family (R)


 
THE FAMILY (R)

Some Like it Hot, Dick Tracy, Prizzi's Honor--for a long time movies have combined gangsters with comedy. This latest genre combination stars Robert DeNiro--who has played gangster so often he should be a made man by now-- and co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Tommy Lee Jones.

The Family has a good premise: a mob family is relocated to France as part of the Witness Protection Program. DeNiro has trouble giving up his old, vicious ways, as do his violent children and wife. We know Pfeiffer has been Married to the Mob before, but this time she loses her accent and comedy, while Jones phones it in.

The Family Trailer 2013 Robert De Niro Mafia Movie - Official [HD] by Cieon Movies on YouTube

There's no wit or script here, the family's actions are unbelievable for people in hiding--there are plenty of excuses for murder, torture and gunplay. It's as if the filmmakers said "hey... we'll give it a good cast and the rest, forget about it!"

One hat.


 
Movies To See Right Now: Lee Daniel's The Butler, Blue Jasmine, Good Ol' Freda & The Spectacular Now

Home Viewing/DVD: Star Trek Into Darkness, Chasing Ice, Homeland Season 2, The Great Gatsby, The Reluctant Fundamentalist & Kon-Tiki


 
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
 

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