Keeping Up With The Steins

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Film: C+

 

 

There has been quiet cycle of comedies about Jewish living lately that has been brewing since the 1980s and even extends overseas to recent hits like Go For Zucker.  The one difference is the U.S./Hollywood comedies have been broader and sometimes unnecessarily shrill, which is the case with Scott Marshall’s Keeping Up With The Steins.

 

The story is the same multi-generational-reunion scenario that makes us realize how dysfunctional all families are, including socio-economic riffs and other angers.  Unfortunately, Marshall does it by way of his commercially successful father Gary Marshall, who actually co-stars as the cantankerous grandfather of the male child protagonist who has a constant stream of voiceovers.  Even with Jeremy Piven, Doris Roberts, Daryl Hannah and Jamie Gertz, this cannot rise above the usual sitcom trappings too typical of most Marshall comedies.  Despite the occasional laugh, the 99 minutes runs on too much when it could have had more depth and insight, but Mark Zakarin’s screenplay is too one-note for that to happen.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot by Charles Minsky, A.S.C., and is standard fare at best.  This is a bit soft and I wondered if this was a film or HD shoot.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is surprisingly weak, dialogue based and subtle.  The combination is passable at best.  Extras include a behind the scenes piece, two audio commentaries and deleted scenes that would not have made much of a difference.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo