Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dramedy mines dysfunction for laughs; some sex, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
This Is Where I Leave You
What's the Story?
Based on the best seller by Jonathan Tropper, THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU starts at the end of the life of the Altman family patriarch. Judd (Jason Bateman), Wendy (Tina Fey), Paul (Corey Stoll), and Phillip (Adam Driver) -- the adult Altman siblings -- have just lost their father. Along with their mother, Hilary (Jane Fonda) -- a therapist who's written about each and every one of them -- they're sitting shiva. They haven't seen much of each other lately, but they have seven days to reconnect, and -- as often happens when families get together -- unearth past disagreements. For Judd, it's an especially difficult time: He's just discovered that his wife, Quinn (Abigail Spencer), is having an affair with his boss, Wade Beaufort (Dax Shepard).
Is It Any Good?
Based on the cast alone, This Is Where I Leave You is a winner. Nearly every single name in the credits -- topped, of course by Fonda, who's enchanting --brings weight to the movie. See it just to watch them create, with much success, a dysfunctional family that functions with deep love and respect for one another -- a motley, hobbled crew we can all love.
Beyond that, though, you'll be working more with bits of pleasure and enjoyment than with a film that's appealing as a whole. It's funny, yes, though sometimes the laughs come at the expense of originality. And it's moving, though the insight arrives bundled with a helping of treacle. At least the story itself is offbeat. But truly, the best reason to see This Is Where I Leave You is that it leaves you thinking just enough about your own family's quirks and secrets to appreciate its authentic, if sometimes obvious, takeaways. And that cast! But we've mentioned that already.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how This Is Where I Leave You treats drinking/drug use. Are there realistic consequences? If not, what message does that send?
What role does sex play in the movie? How does it impact the characters' relationships with each other?
Are the Altmans a typical family, or are they more messed up than others? What can we learn from them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 19, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : December 16, 2014
- Cast : Jason Bateman , Tina Fey , Jane Fonda
- Director : Shawn Levy
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, sexual content and some drug use
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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