However, once Everybody's Fine started, I immediately realized it was going to be a poignant journey into the lives of a group of children and their relationship with their father, Franke Goode, played by Robert De Niro, who hoped and expected nothing but the best from his 4 kids.
When Franke Goode's wife passes away, he decides to hold a family reunion, but at the last minute, all of his children cancels on the reunion, prompting him to take a bus and go to meet each of his children, who live lives in different parts of the US - from the very successful Amy, who holds a very posh position in an ad agency (Kate Beckinsale) to bubbly Las Vegas dancer, Rosie (Drew Barrymore).
What happens thereafter is Franke's very touching realization about his high expectations and about learning to let go of them, and showing his kids that he loves them just as they are, with all their inadequacies and skeletons in the closet.
I cannot get over just how absolutely simple and yet deeply poignant this movie is. The movie turned a normal road trip into a series of life lessons, extremely emotional scenes, and a lot of tears. Whenever Franke meets up with one of his children, Franke lets out a trademark whistle, then smiles wistfully and nostalgically as the camera pans towards a younger version of his child before the scene fades back into the present time. It's a seemingly small video effect, certainly not worthy of any Academy Award nominations for cinematic effects, but it spoke in such volumes, and really set the mood for the movie.
Later in the movie, you'll see how the title really wraps the whole movie up. This is certainly a good movie to have as a DVD, if you would like to get in touch with your emotions. Make sure you have a large box of tissue beside you.
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