Everybody’s Fine Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Old man travels across America to guilt-trip his successful children into admitting they’re miserable, only to realize his parenting style was the real problem.

🍿 Everybody’s Fine: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Setup: A Lonely Widower

Frank Goode, a recent widower, anticipates a visit from his four adult children. When they all cancel at the last minute, Frank feels isolated and decides to take a surprise road trip to see them, despite his doctor’s concerns about his health. This sets the stage for a journey of discovery and confrontation.

Visiting the Children: Unveiling the Truth

Frank visits each of his children: Amy in Chicago, Robert in Denver, and Rosie in Las Vegas. During these visits, Frank discovers that his children’s lives are not as perfect as they have portrayed. He uncovers half-truths and hidden struggles, revealing a disconnect between his expectations and their realities. Each encounter chips away at the facade of ‘everything’s fine’.

The Missing Son: A Lingering Absence

Throughout his journey, Frank is unable to reach his son David. The absence of David hangs heavily over the narrative, with the other siblings hinting at problems but avoiding direct answers. This creates a sense of unease and foreshadows a deeper, more painful truth about David’s situation. David’s absence becomes a symbol of the family’s fractured communication.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Frank Goode (Robert De Niro): A recently widowed, retired father embarks on a cross-country trip to reconnect with his adult children, discovering the truths they’ve hidden from him.
• Amy (Kate Beckinsale): Frank’s eldest daughter is a successful advertising executive in Chicago, secretly dealing with a failing marriage and family strain.
• Robert (Sam Rockwell): Frank’s eldest son is a percussionist on tour, grappling with his father’s expectations and his own artistic fulfillment.
• Rosie (Drew Barrymore): Frank’s younger daughter is a dancer in Las Vegas, concealing her true lifestyle and personal relationships from her father.
• David (Austin Lysy): Frank’s youngest son, an artist, whose struggles and ultimate fate form a central, tragic element of the story, influencing Frank’s journey of discovery.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Frank: “You know, I spent my whole life putting that coating on telephone wire so people could stay connected. And now…” – Frank reflects on his career and its ironic connection to his strained relationship with his children.
• Frank: “When your mother was alive, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Now… nothing.” – Frank expresses his feelings of isolation and the shift in family dynamics after his wife’s death.
• Robert: “Dad, we felt pressured to make you proud, to be the best we can be.” – Robert explains the unspoken pressure the children felt to live up to their father’s expectations.
• Young Rosie: “Tell her nothing if you love her as she loves you. Tell her what she wants to hear… tell her we’re all fine.” – During Frank’s hospital dream sequence, a child version of Rosie summarizes the family’s tendency to hide the truth from their parents.
• Frank: “Everybody’s fine, everybody’s fine.” – Frank repeats this at the end of the movie, in the Christmas reunion, to reassure everyone around that all is well.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $21,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $9,208,876
• Worldwide Gross: $16,443,609

💥 Everybody’s Fine Reviews

Personal Review

I watched this movie with my dad, and it definitely sparked some interesting conversation! De Niro is fantastic as the dad, but the film itself felt a bit slow-paced at times. The scene where he’s imagining his kids as children, finally being honest, hit hard. It made me think about how we often filter our lives for our parents. Overall, a decent watch but be prepared for some heavy feels and maybe a call to your family afterward!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Robert De Niro”
  • “Viewers who enjoy family dramas”
  • “Those who appreciate character-driven stories”
  • “People who enjoy road trip movies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Drug use”
  • “Brief violence”
  • “Thematic elements related to loss and grief”
  • “Discussions of infidelity”
  • “Implied Lesbiansism”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Despite a strong performance from Robert De Niro, ‘Everybody’s Fine’ feels manipulative and predictable, failing to resonate emotionally beyond surface sentimentality. The film lacks depth and originality.
• Hollywood Reporter: “De Niro delivers a nuanced portrayal of a grieving father, but the film’s episodic structure and heavy-handed symbolism detract from its emotional impact. While touching, it ultimately feels contrived.
• New York Times: “The film, a remake of Stanno Tutti Bene, suffers from a lack of subtlety. Despite De Niro’s effort, the script relies on clichés and sentimental moments, making it difficult to fully invest in the characters’ journeys.

Audience Reactions

De Niro’s performance truly captures the essence of a father longing for connection with his grown children.: Many viewers praised Robert De Niro’s acting and the film’s exploration of family dynamics, although some found the story depressing.

The movie highlights the complexities of family relationships and the secrets we keep to protect loved ones.: Viewers appreciated the film’s realistic portrayal of family dysfunction and the challenges of maintaining close bonds across distances.

Overall Consensus: While praised for De Niro’s performance, ‘Everybody’s Fine’ is generally considered a sentimental but somewhat predictable drama that explores complex family relationships.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is a remake of the 1990 Italian film ‘Stanno tutti bene’ directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, starring Marcello Mastroianni.”
• “Bradley Cooper auditioned for the role of Robert, which eventually went to Sam Rockwell.”
• “The film uses visual motifs of telephone wires and cables, connecting to Frank’s former job, to symbolize communication and connection within the family.”

🖥️ How to Watch Everybody’s Fine?

Everybody’s Fine is available to rent or purchase on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability on streaming services and cable providers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Everybody’s Fine, you might like these similar films:

• About Schmidt (2002): Shares a similar theme of a recently widowed man embarking on a journey of self-discovery and reconnecting with his children.
• Tokyo Story (1953): Explores the themes of aging, family relationships, and the disconnect between parents and their grown children in a Japanese setting.
• August: Osage County (2013): Features a dysfunctional family reuniting after a crisis, revealing long-held secrets and resentments.
• Captain Fantastic (2016): Explores unconventional parenting and a family’s journey of rediscovery after loss and challenges to their ideals.
• Manchester by the Sea (2016): A grieving uncle forced to care for his nephew after the boy’s father dies, and his journey of self-acceptance.

🛒 Everybody’s Fine Related Products

• Robert De Niro: A Life in Pictures: A beautifully curated coffee table book showcasing Robert De Niro’s iconic roles and behind-the-scenes moments from his illustrious career. Featuring rare photographs and insightful commentary, this book offers a comprehensive look at one of cinema’s greatest actors. Also, this helps understand some background about the movie and its main character.
• AncestryDNA: Genetic Ethnicity Test: Uncover your family history with AncestryDNA. This genetic test provides a detailed ethnicity estimate and connects you with living relatives across the globe. Explore your roots and discover shared family traits, just like Frank exploring his family ties. This product helps explore where your family comes from.
• The Art of Connecting: How to Build Meaningful Relationships: An insightful audiobook offering practical advice on improving communication, building stronger relationships, and resolving conflicts. Learn how to foster deeper connections with your loved ones and bridge emotional gaps. This audio book helps with the communication of families. Available on Audible.
• Family Tree Maker Software: Create and preserve your family history with Family Tree Maker. This user-friendly software allows you to build a detailed family tree, add photos and documents, and share your discoveries with relatives. This tool can help map your ancestry for generations.

🎧 Soundtrack

Everybody’s Fine features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Catch a Falling Star” – performed by Perry Como
• “I Want to (Come Home)” – performed by Paul McCartney

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Everybody’s Fine – Sad Scene

Ever feel like your family isn’t being totally honest with you? This heartbreaking scene from ‘Everybody’s Fine’ captures that feeling perfectly. Robert De Niro’s raw emotion is incredible, a must-see!

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