The Family Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A snitch family moves to France, beats up plumbers, blows up grocery stores, and then complains about the water quality before a movie night turns into a *Goodfellas* reenactment with live ammo.

🍿 The Family: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Relocation to Normandy

The Manzoni family, led by former Mafia boss Giovanni (Robert De Niro), is relocated to Normandy, France, under the Witness Protection Program. Giovanni, now known as Fred Blake, his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer), and their children, Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo), struggle to adapt to their new, quiet life.

Old Habits Die Hard

Despite Agent Stansfield’s (Tommy Lee Jones) efforts to keep them in line, the Manzonis revert to their old habits. Fred resorts to violence to solve local disputes, Maggie blows up a grocery store after a rude encounter, Belle uses physical force to deal with unwanted attention, and Warren establishes a lucrative black market at his school.

The Mafia Catches Up

Warren’s actions inadvertently reveal their location to Don Luchese (Stan Carp), the Mafia boss Giovanni betrayed. Luchese sends a team of hitmen to eliminate the Manzoni family, leading to a violent confrontation in their small French town.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Fred Blake (Robert De Niro): A former Mafia boss turned informant, now in witness protection, struggling to suppress his violent tendencies in a quiet French town.
• Maggie Blake (Michelle Pfeiffer): Fred’s wife, who struggles to adapt to a normal life and often resorts to extreme measures when provoked.
• Belle Blake (Dianna Agron): The teenage daughter of Fred and Maggie, who uses violence to navigate high school and deals with romantic frustrations.
• Warren Blake (John D’Leo): The resourceful teenage son of Fred and Maggie, who quickly establishes a criminal enterprise at his new school.
• Robert Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones): The weary FBI agent tasked with protecting the Manzoni/Blake family and keeping them in line.
• Don Luchese (Stan Carp): The imprisoned Mafia boss who seeks revenge on Fred Blake for turning him in.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Belle Blake: “Hey boys, is this your approach to women? You’re not gonna get very far. Girls are not some toys that you fuck in the park! Okay? Your future depends on women, don’t you care about your future? So take care of them, or else you’re not gonna have one.” – Belle delivers this line after beating up some boys who harassed her, asserting a strong feminist stance.
• Fred Blake: “Like Al Capone said, asking polite with a gun in your hand is better than asking polite with nothing.” – Fred quotes Al Capone to justify his violent methods of dealing with problems.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $30,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $36,918,811
• Worldwide Gross: $78,418,811

💥 The Family Reviews

Personal Review

I went into this movie expecting a fun crime comedy, and it delivered! The plot is definitely absurd at times, but that’s part of the charm. I was laughing out loud during the supermarket scene, Michelle Pfeiffer did a great job there. The performances are great across the board, and it’s fun seeing De Niro playing a parody of his classic mob roles. If you’re looking for a lighthearted and quirky film, The Family is worth a watch.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy gangster films with a comedic twist”
  • “Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Brief sexuality”
  • “Some disturbing content”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “The film’s blend of dark humor and extreme violence is uneven, but De Niro and Pfeiffer are compelling as the heads of this dysfunctional family. Besson’s direction is stylish, but the script needed more refinement to fully realize its potential.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “While not Besson’s finest work, ‘The Family’ provides enough entertainment value to warrant a watch. The cast is strong, and the fish-out-of-water premise offers moments of genuine humor, even if it doesn’t always hit the mark.
• Ramascreen.com: “Robert De Niro is a legend, we all know that, he makes things look so easy. He’s played gangster or mobster roles countless times before, he’s even done it for comedy, anybody remember Analyze This?! So THE FAMILY is a walk in the park for him, he could probably do this blindfolded, but of course, he doesn’t take it too lightly especially when sparring with other greats like Michelle Pfeiffer and Tommy Lee Jones, whenever those three interact on screen, it’s like the camera just wants more and more of them even when their lines are done and over.

Audience Reactions

Robert De Niro’s performance and the dark humor made the movie enjoyable and entertaining.: Viewers found the movie funny and quirky.

The over-the-top violence and absurdity of the plot kept viewers engaged.: The audience appreciated that it was funny, witty, quick on its feet and surprisingly heartwarming.

Overall Consensus: A dark comedy with strong performances, The Family provides entertainment through quirky characters and absurd situations, although the blend of humor and violence can be uneven.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Martin Scorsese is credited as an executive producer on ‘The Family’.”
• “The film is based on the French novel ‘Malavita’ by Tonino Benacquista, which is known as ‘Badfellas’ in America.”
• “Luc Besson, known for action films like ‘La Femme Nikita’ and ‘The Fifth Element,’ directed the film, blending his action style with dark comedy.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Family?

As of October 2024, ‘The Family’ is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Family, you might like these similar films:

• Analyze This (1999): Features Robert De Niro in a comedic role as a mobster dealing with everyday life, similar to the tone and humor in ‘The Family’.
• Married to the Mob (1988): A comedic take on the mafia lifestyle, focusing on the wife of a mobster trying to escape that world, much like Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in ‘The Family’.
• My Blue Heaven (1990): A comedy about a former mobster in witness protection trying to adjust to a new life, sharing the same core concept as ‘The Family’.
• We’re the Millers (2013): A more overt comedy where a makeshift family engages in criminal activities while trying to maintain a facade of normalcy, similar to the family dynamics in ‘The Family’.

🛒 The Family Related Products

• Goodfellas [Blu-ray]: Relive the iconic Scorsese film that ‘The Family’ references, and witness De Niro in a masterful mobster role. An essential for any crime film enthusiast.
• Mafia III: Definitive Edition – PlayStation 4: Immerse yourself in the gritty world of organized crime in this action-packed game. Experience a compelling story of revenge and power set in a vividly realized 1960s New Orleans.
• Tommy Lee Jones Movie Poster: High-quality poster featuring Tommy Lee Jones, celebrating his iconic roles in cinema. A great piece for any film buff’s collection.
• Mob Boss Funny T-Shirt: Show off your dark sense of humor with a ‘Mob Boss’ t-shirt. A fun and edgy way to express your appreciation for the film’s themes.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Shine Brightly” – performed by Don Boyette, Brittany Butler, Ted Silbert

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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Prepare to be on the edge of your seat as this trailer unveils the thrilling action, suspense, and drama that awaits in the second season of the beloved movie.

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