RV

Year: 2006

Grade: B-

Country: USA

Director: Sonnenfeld

Review

sonnenfeld interjects some of his usual visual flair though the film is much less visually interesting and visually active than raising arizona, for example. the film begins with a syrupy sweet interaction between robin williams and his young daughter. he’s putting her to bed with a sock puppet routine and then she talks about how he’s her hero, etc. yuck. at this point, you’re certain you’re in for a disney meditation on family values. the next scene, though, takes place 10 years (or so) in the future and this is where the film stays. the young daughter (jo jo) is now a teenaged bitch and toddler son has grown into a body-building young teen with a napoleon complex. what ensues is national lampoon’s vacation part 24 and, despite its familiarity, it’s done pretty well. williams is torn between work and family and tries to juggle the two while on a road trip that involves multiple RV-related mishaps and run-ins with partridge family look-a-likes (lead by kristen chenoweth and jeff daniels). cheryl hines (curb your enthusiasm) rounds out the cast playing her usual character as well as she always does (pretty well). it’s not a brilliant comedy, but it has enough depth (to keep it interesting) and shallowness (so it doesn’t get too corny) to keep the film worth watching.

Watched in theater