MovieChat Forums > The Family (2013) Discussion > not just bad: disturbingly bad

not just bad: disturbingly bad

posted 11 years ago by valeriejgibson-1
108 replies | jump to latest

What a bizarre movie. I did find myself laughing at times, but felt guilty for doing so, because the principals in the movie are so psychotic. We're supposed to root for them, but how can you root for people who think nothing of murder and destruction as the solution to everything? The movie creates this bizarre universe in which we're expected to sympathize with the family. They love each other, after all, so that should excuse everything, apparently. The acting is marvelous, but the idea is very ill-conceived.

Oh, yes, in this bizarre universe, everyone in Normandy speaks excellent English.

[–] hoochiemoochie 10 years ago

What a waste of a movie...one of the few this year that I saw that I can honestly say I didn't like (and I avoided all the really bad movies of this year like the plague).

Goes right next to The Conjuring (what a boring unscary waste of time) and The Butler (revisionist Oprah propaganda) for my worst of the year.

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"Live every week like it's Shark Week."

[–] Allswell007 10 years ago

Yeah, I avoided most of the really bad movies last year myself because they were easier to spot than most years. This cast really fooled me in to wasting money here, however.

[–] taskinugur 10 years ago

This movie is the worst 2013 movie. And tormentingly long! I just don't like cutting the movie short but just because i had respect for de Niro i had to watch it all but seriously in the end i lost my respect to de Niro too. Enough with the cheap Italian mafioso roles.

[–] Cocytus 10 years ago

Yeah, I agree, definitely one of, if not THE worst movies of 2013, and that is saying a lot.

[–] reaseltbim 10 years ago

I had no problem with the violence, but the movie is really stupid and the writing is really bad.

This movie was so corny. It was cheesy. The jokes were not funny, The black comedy was not funny, You need to have funny dark moments in order for a movie to work, This movie was stupid and Devoid of any joy or entertainment.

the characters were not clever or witty (Even though the movie wants you to believe they are)
They were not likable, they were just as bad as the people after them or the people bullying them. the wife was forgettable and boring, the kids started as cool and smart but ended up being more stupid than the people from that town, (If the boy was so smart why did he get caught?)

It was a movie about a-holes going after other aholes, that's it. A movie about bullies that go after bullies. there was no redeeming quality, No reason to care for these people. No reason to care if they die or not.

[–] steve112547 10 years ago

Nothing personal but if you had no problem with the violence - there's a problem there. Oh sure, it could've been even worse....

My mistake - watching to the end when i could've only wasted the first hour.

*Everything happens to me! Now I'm shot by a child! (Tom Chaney)

[–] reaseltbim 10 years ago

my point is that fake violence in movies do not offend me. A lot of people are hating on the movie because of the fake movie violence but It doesn't bother me.

what bothered me was how cheesy and boring it felt

right....

[–] Maniac_In_Black 8 years ago

@ steve112547 .... yeah, there's violence in rated R movies. Get over it.

[–] kidjay83 10 years ago

agreed,just wasn't a very good movie

Only when society changes will the culture change "

[–] cableaddict 10 years ago

I don't think Luc Besson ever really decided what feel he wanted. Comedy, drama, black comedy. It really doesn't quite deliver on any of these because Besson played it safe, mixing in all sorts of elements.

I still enjoyed the movie a lot, but some of the major scenes lost a lot of impact because of the above.

[–] talisencrw 10 years ago

I enjoyed it a lot too. Definitely an 8/10. I see tons of good movies, from all around the world, from 1895 to present, and in my humble opinion, it's one of the best gangster comedies I have ever seen, certainly since the likes of Analyze This, Prizzi's Honor and My Cousin Vinny. I really don't understand what a lot of other people watched, because it couldn't have been the same film I did. This is way better De Niro fare than the likes of Righteous Kill.

[–] allankelb 9 years ago

This one must have slipped in and out of the Cinema here in Australia very quickly- as I have never heard of it. only came by the film when I saw a trailer on a DVD and got lucky, found the film at my local public library. Anyway- I though it was brilliant- it isn't always easy to make a comedy with violence as extreme as this but I think Luc Besson succeeds.

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

You and me both! From Canada, a quick hello, and glad you enjoyed the film too! Found I really liked Besson's more recent Lucy a lot as well.

[–] Maniac_In_Black 8 years ago

@talisencrw ..yeah I loved it too. Seems like most people extpect a masterpiece out of every movie or something. Just different taste I guess.

[–] thebabe3 9 years ago

I too at times found it violent, but that was the extreme of it all. The movie moved along focussing on the family. I found it totally entertaining and loved all the characters. It was supposed to be campy.

[–] fanaticita 9 years ago

Yes, it was very violent, but thanks to the cast who made the film delightful, especially De Niro and Michelle P. The kids were great too, and last but not least Tommy Lee Jones.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] ricpambon07 7 years ago

I recorded this off of TV. Mainly because of the leading actors, which was a mistake.

I watched 40 minutes then deleted it. One of the worst (part of) films I have seen in 50+ years. Nothing made sense, it was not dramatic, not funny, I don't even think that the acting was good. Just very, very, badly made.
I am just pleased that I didn't pay for it.