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Teen
A serious message well-delivered
By BILLY NORRIS
Published June 26, 2006
Movie: Keeping Up With the Steins Rating: PG-13 for some crude language, nudity and brief drug references Summary: The rivalry between ex-partner Hollywood agents Arnie Stein (Larry Miller) and Adam Fiedler (Jeremy Piven) goes far beyond the workplace. They attend the same synagogue, and their sons Zachary (Carter Jenkins) and Benjamin (Daryl Sabara) are close friends. The Steins have really outdone themselves with Zachary's elaborate and extravagant Titanic-themed bar mitzvah party. With Benjamin's bar mitzvah only a few months away, Adam feels the necessity to outdo Arnie in every sense of the word. Both Adam's practical wife, Joanne (Jami Gertz), and Benjamin (who lacks self-confidence) are wary of the complications such extravagance would bring. But Adam moves ahead with his plans to have a decadent bash at Dodger Stadium. In an attempt to squelch his father's plans, Benjamin manages to get his hippie grandfather, Irwin (Garry Marshall), who abandoned Adam and his mother many years before, to show up for the bar mitzvah two weeks early. As Adam deals with his malice for his estranged father, Benjamin grows close to Irwin and begins to learn the meaning of becoming a man. My View: Although the previews make it out to be more of a laugh-getter, this charming film aims to deliver a serious message about the importance of family values and traditions. While gently addressing the stereotypes and idiosyncrasies of Jewish families, this film provides everyone with something to relate to. The acting gets the job done, and the screenplay mostly satisfies. There isn't anything stellar here, but it's worth the price of admission and qualifies in my book as a well-made movie. Recommendations: Take the whole family, pay attention to the moral of the story and enjoy your time together. Grade: B- Billy Norris, 18, is a recent graduate of Seminole High School and a former member of the X-Team.
[Last modified June 26, 2006, 14:46:11]
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