The dynamics of a family has universal appeal. It's one way of telling a story that will resonate with everyone. You might think your family is whack or boring"”but that's why you go to the movies, to forget you have a boring, whack family. Well, Luc Besson's new film hopes you enjoy an American family that should be really awesome because they do nothing but whack stuff all day.
Robert De Niro stars as Giovanni, a mobster who rats on his New York mafia pals and goes into the witness protection program with his wife and kids (Pfeiffer, Agron, and D'Leo). Tommy Lee Jones dryly plays the FBI agent assigned to protect them in France.
This film likes to blend action with comedy and drama"”a great combination"”that ultimately doesn't work for this film. Early on, a number of scenes are shown to introduce us to each character. The tone is meant to be comedic while the character revelations are violent.
I'm fine with a film that has a dark sense of humor, but when we later learn of forces plotting to execute our heroes, the quirky musical score dissolves and the heartstrings come out to play. The film can't have it both ways"”either be a goofy movie that satirizes mafia life or show us a serious slice that The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Sorpanos never did.
Because of its tonal inconsistencies (and overall plot), I was left bored and restless for large stretches of this story. The film has nothing new to say about families that haven't already been said, but you gotta love its unrealized potential! I like the fact that the filmmakers chose comedic silliness over drama. But if they were going for fluff, why not add a theme song from the 80s, film the movie in front of a live studio audience, and put it on ABC?
