Starz Digital Media | Release Date: April 29, 2016
6.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings
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Positive:
18
Mixed:
11
Negative:
2
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5
BrianMcCriticJul 5, 2016
A film that will peak your interest at times with its thoughts on how far you will go for good art. In the end though you'll start to scratch your head as it gets a little ridiculous. C+
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6
smiyamotJul 8, 2016
With an all star cast, what could go wrong? Guess the story line just didn't give these actors room to shine. We have two parents and two kids; did the parents mess up these kids so they are now having problems as adults? In flashback, weWith an all star cast, what could go wrong? Guess the story line just didn't give these actors room to shine. We have two parents and two kids; did the parents mess up these kids so they are now having problems as adults? In flashback, we see how they were raised. Sounds like many movies I've seen recently. We have a twist at the end but it wasn't enough for me to rate this movie any higher. Expand
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6
LeZeeSep 1, 2016
The puzzle behind the disappearance of the pranksters.

I still remember the Jason Bateman's feature film debute as a director a couple of years ago. He really did good and now this is his second. It was adapted from the book of the same
The puzzle behind the disappearance of the pranksters.

I still remember the Jason Bateman's feature film debute as a director a couple of years ago. He really did good and now this is his second. It was adapted from the book of the same name that tells the story of a brother and sister who begin to investigate their mysteriously disappeared parents. With some flashbacks, which reveals how these two grew up with their famous prank artist parents.

When I saw the opening scene, I was really excited and thought the film would be like this throughout. And then obviously it changed its course towards the mystery surrounding parts that set in the present time. But I did not feel those developments were bad, except the final act, especially the ending surely a let down. Actually, it was not bad, only expected a better one.

The story certainly created the atmosphere where the viewers begin their predictions. That's the issue, because it failed to deliver par with the audience anticipation. Like maybe some smart twist or the edgy scenes before concluding would have done good.

Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman with their multiple roles like actors, producers et cetera should have been the hefty load, but I think they managed well. Though the film was okay type, had its moments that did not last very long. I don't know what the novel fans say about the film, but I think I dissatisfied with the source material. Overall once watchable film, especially without any extraordinary expectations, because it is a simple drama with some amount of comedy and suspense.

6/10
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4
KaptenVideoDec 8, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wow, weird one, this. For most part it's uninvolving and even sleep-inducing. And I wouldn't say it's put together successfully: too much empty talk and too little character development or concentrating on family dynamics.

But it does raise interesting questions about how or why parents are to blame for shortfalls in their offsprings' later independent life. And the short but quite powerful finale does lift it somewhere higher than before. At least it did for me.

The story is about adult brother and sister (Nicole Kidman, Jason Bateman) not enjoying their adult existence and blaming parents for not raising them the proper way. But the latter (Christopher Walken, Maryann Plunkett) are lifelong controversial performance artists who claim that true art is more important than being like everybody else.

I haven't read the successful 2011's novel by Kevin Wilson the movie is based on but Bateman, also directing, seemed to be struggling with the adaptation. Movie as a whole is in terrible need for some balancing. The scenes with parents are functional, thanks to evercool Walken. But the story concentrates mostly on adult children who are so devoid of charm or anything remotely interesting that may put me almost to sleep. Think "The Royal Tenenbaums" but without the fun parts or unique voice of Wes Anderson.

I am not sure what is it with Kidman and Bateman. They both can be really cool given some good material but they rarely manage to find something worthwhile. This is not the good project their fans have been looking for.
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