The Family Tree (film)

Last updated
The Family Tree
The Family Tree (2011 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Vivi Friedman
Written byMark Lisson
Produced by
  • J. Todd Harris
  • Kathy Weiss
  • Mark Lisson
  • Allan Jones
Starring
CinematographyJoplin Wu
Edited by
  • Patrick Sheffield
  • Justine Halliday
  • Seth Flaum
Music byStacey Hersh
Production
company
Driving Lessons
Distributed by Entertainment One
Release date
  • August 26, 2011 (2011-08-26)(United States)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6,035 [1]

The Family Tree is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Vivi Friedman and written by Mark Lisson. The film stars Dermot Mulroney, Hope Davis, Chi McBride, Max Thieriot, Britt Robertson, Selma Blair, and Christina Hendricks. It was given a limited release in the United States by Entertainment One on August 26, 2011.

Contents

The music for the film was written by Stacey Hersh. Additionally, Amy Powers and Megan Cavallari co-wrote a song for the film.

Plot

A mother and wife stricken with memory loss allows a dysfunctional family a second chance at harmony and happiness.

Cast

Release

Entertainment One acquired the North American rights to the film in June 2011, and set the release date of August 26, 2011. [2] The film was given a limited release in the United States. [3]

Reception

Box office

The film made a total of $6,035 from two theaters in the U.S. during its two-week run. [1]

Critical response

The film was largely panned by film critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the film received a rating of 10%, with a weighted average of 4.2/10, based on 20 reviews indicating "no consensus yet". [4] Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "Director Vivi Friedman's inability to successfully reconcile the film's duality undercuts an eclectic cast gamely committed to Mark Lisson's thematically ambitious, if scattered, script." [5] Chuck Bowen of Slant Magazine also gave a negative review, writing: "Sadly, The Family Tree squanders all [the] promise for the usual trite, bluntly written, and poorly staged testaments to love and family. Who needs that when you have a cast this game? A truly troubled family isn't, at the very least, this deadly dull." [6] Stephen Holden of The New York Times heavily criticized the film, describing it as a "hyperactive screenplay by Mark Lisson that is so lacking in substance." [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 "The Family Tree (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  2. ↑ "Entertainment One Acquires The U.S. Distribution Rights To The Family Tree". ShockYa.com. June 15, 2011. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ Brooks, Brian (June 14, 2011). "Entertainment One Plants "Family Tree" for North America". Indiewire. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Family Tree (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  5. ↑ Goldstein, Gary (August 26, 2011). "Movie review: 'The Family Tree'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ Bowen, Chuck (August 22, 2011). "Review: The Family Tree". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  7. ↑ Holden, Stephen (August 25, 2011). "For One Family in Serenity, Ohio, It Seems Life Is Anything but Serene". The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
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