Laura Steinel‘s directorial debut Family is a story of letting our inner freaks out. Right off the bat, we meet Kate (Taylor Schilling), who’s a workaholic, probably alcoholic, selfish and self-destructive woman. She gets a call from her brother (Eric Edelson), who needs help. He needs to help his wife move their mother into hospice as she dies, and they’re asking Kate – literally their last resort – to watch their daughter Maddie for just a night. She reluctantly agrees, and as these things do, a night turns into a week.
Maddie (Bryn Vale) isn’t a normal middle school aged girl. She’s a freak. Think Charlie from Hereditary meets Augie from Role Models. She gets teased at school, skips ballet to attend karate next door, fights trees with weapons made out of sticks and is happy eating chicken parm every night. She and Kate are a total mismatch on paper. But they both don’t fit in, and both don’t really care to. And that’s where the bonding begins.
Family doesn’t break new ground in the oddball, unexpected bonding comedy space, but it masters the art with a precise wit and efficiency that keeps it feeling fresh. It’s impossible to resist – full of heart and laugh out loud funny all the way through. The entire cast, led by Schilling delivers a sharp performance. Family almost feels like it could live among Judd Apatow‘s earlier filmography with its message, yet it’s much more efficient than his films.
The cast is stacked from top to bottom
I was familiar with Taylor Schilling from her work on Orange is the New Black. Similarly to that show, here she is sharp, somewhat ruthless and commands the screen. Family, however gives her a chance to really show off her comedic chops in a whole new way – her timing, physicality and facial expressions in particular were perfect and said a lot even if she wasn’t saying much.
Fortunately, Schilling is just the start. Bryn Vale, who I’d never seen before, perfectly captures the weird outcast who has no interest in being considered “normal.” Kate McKinnon, in one of her more normal everyday characters, plays an absolute nightmare of a suburban neighbor who’s too concerned in everyone else’s business, while Brian Tyree Henry continues his torrid hot streak as Maddie’s sensei, Pete. I worry he’ll get overlooked, but Fabrizio Zacharee Guido plays Dennis/Baby Joker and is a revelation. He is laugh out loud funny every time he opens his mouth or shows off his rat tail. Matt Walsh, Eric Ederson, and Allison Tolman round out the cast, all with small but admirable performances.
One of the best comedic scripts in a while
In terms of pure comedies, the trend the past few years has been towards action or irreverent humor. Perhaps Family‘s greatest strength is that all of the jokes packed into the script feel like they actually serve the story. Where films like Blockers lean towards jokes that, while hilarious, aren’t closely tied to the story, nothing in Family misses a beat.
The script keeps everything tight. At 86 minutes, Family never overstays its welcome by becoming too preachy. Perhaps the only part that felt unneeded was the opening “You’re probably wondering how I got here” bit. Any script using juggalos as a vehicle to seamlessly show the value of being an outsider and being comfortable in your own skin is one to be admired.
Let your freak flag fly
In the end, both Kate and Maddie find comfort in truly being themselves. Maddie’s parents don’t force her to ballet or to get a dress for the dance when she’d rather wear a cape. Kate realizes being a cold-hearted, work-obsessed boss isn’t the end of the world. At the Gathering of the Juggalos of all places, Steinel finds the humanity and kindness where it’s least expected. We judge people who don’t fall into societal norms based on appearance or interests. Face tattoos be damned, those are people that can lean on each other to find a missing child in the crowd. It’s a valuable lesson in an industry that too often shows the outcast becoming the popular, cool kid.
Family: A comedy worth seeking out
If the past few years have left you waiting for a sharp comedy that wasn’t necessarily an action comedy, Family may just be the film you’ve been waiting for. It’s a brisk watch that packs in jokes. The cast is supremely talented and delivers at every turn. Most of all, Family is a movie that celebrates what makes us all different and the best of us. It’s not getting a wide release, but it’s worth seeking out if it’s playing in your area.
What are your favorite outsider comedies? Let us know in the comments.
Watch Family
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.