The Thing About My Folks (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Raymond De Felitta

Writer (WGA):

Paul Reiser (written by)

Release Date:

20 December 2006 (Kuwait)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Sometimes the fruit falls very far from the tree.

Plot:

Ben's dad Sam shows up one night with a note from Ben's mother (Sam's wife of 46 years), that she has left...

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Sam Kleinman
Paul Reiser	...	Ben Kleinman
Olympia Dukakis	...	Muriel Kleinman
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Rachel Kleinman
Mackenzie Connolly	...	Lilly Kleinman
Lydia Jordan	...	Mia Kleinman
Ann Dowd	...	Linda
Claire Beckman	...	Hillary
Mimi Lieber	...	Bonnie
Bernie McInerney	...	Mr. Harrison
Catherine Taormina	...	Young Muriel Kleinman
Rachel Robinson	...	Voice of Young Muriel
Rich Duva	...	Young Sam Kleinman
Marshall Efron	...	Tow Truck Driver
Dennis Sheehan	...	Tackle Shop Owner

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, including some suggestive references.

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Garwood, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Nuance Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When the son and father are driving down the road, the red car behind them disappears then reappears. After a few shots the red car finally passes them.

Quotes:

[Two young girls walk by. Sam keeps staring after them, finally points at them]
Sam Kleinman: Explain that to me.
Ben Kleinman: What?
Sam Kleinman: The holes in those jeans...
Ben Kleinman: Uh-uh.
Sam Kleinman: They're on purpose?
Ben Kleinman: That's right.
Sam Kleinman: It's not because she's poor, and can only afford ripped clothes?
Ben Kleinman: That's correct, sir.
Sam Kleinman: [takes this in] And she doesn't mind that we can see her ass peeking out like that?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: (2006-02-14)" (2006)

This was a lovely film

We just returned from a showing of "The Thing About My Folks" at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, and couldn't help pondering why this film does not have national distribution. Peter Falk's performance of the father was sheer genius. Paul Reiser's script was insightful and very tender. The cinematography was breathtaking:What could be more beautiful than autumn in upper New York State with the the changing of the leaves. (Especially as seen from the seat of a 1936 Ford). If this finally does get national distribution, I'm certain Peter Falk will be up for some kind of acting award. His depiction of the 'father who worked too hard' was brilliant. My husband and I laughed and cried. At a time when war rages abroad, it's such a relief to see a film with no car chases, explosions, and senseless gun battles. This was a lovely film. Good luck to the creators.