Wish I Was Here
Dysfunctional families are fascinating to watch on screen purely to spot the resemblance, good or bad, to your own family members; they exist to show us that whatever life throws at us, families should stick together in order to make it through.
This is none-more evident than in the Kickstarter-funded film Wish I Was Here, in cinemas September 19, which tells the story of a struggling actor who re-evaluates his life when he is left to home school his children.
To celebrate the release, we’ve put together a list of the best recent dysfunctional families in film to remind you that everyone’s family drives them up the wall, but when it comes down to it we love them all the same!
- The Hoovers - Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Family road trips are never easy, but the Hoover family embarks on a turbulent cross-country journey after youngest daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) qualifies in a beauty pageant.
With half of the family’s campervan resenting the temporary uprooting, each member is tested by the close quarters they are in proving that family is necessary to steer you through life.
Greg Kinnear Olive's motivational speaker father Richard, Paul Dano is Dwayne, who has taken a vow of silence until he can join the Air Force, while Sheryl Hoover - played by Toni Collette - is trying to hold everyone together.
Thrown in Steve Carell as Sheryl's suicidal brother and Alan Arkin as Richard's foul-mouthed father Edwin, and you have a family that is driving each other nuts.
However, they are a family that you cannot help but root for as they set out on their drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Redondo Beach, California in just two days. And there are plenty of laughs along the way.
- The Lorkowskis - Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
After her son is expelled from school, single mum and maid Rose (Amy Adams) sets up a crime scene clean-up service to raise the funds instead.
Assisted by her underachieving sister Norah (Emily Blunt), the pair make a name for themselves until Rose is forced to choose between her new business and the life she was expecting.
What makes this movie so great is the central relationship between Rose and Norah - Adams and Blunt really do make a great team.
The pair get to shine in two strong and interesting leading roles, while they both show that they are terrific in the comedy genre.
These are two dysfunctional characters, but you really cannot help but love them.
- The Buchmans - Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Returning home from rehab for a few days so she can celebrate her sister’s wedding, Kym (Anne Hathaway) finds the atmosphere strained as she realises that her family still struggle to reconcile themselves with her dark past, which has been, until now, residing somewhere else.
Her father’s mistrust, sister’s resentment, and mother’s indifference ultimately allow Kym to face her actions.
Rachel Getting Married was one of the best dark comedies to hit the big screen in 2009, with Anne Hathaway giving a terrific central performance.
This is a movie that is driven by secrets, mistrust, and a dark past - and all this is tearing a family apart.
Hathaway gives a terrific central performance as a recovering drug addict, who is still yet to have the forgiveness and regain the trust from her family.
At the same time, Rachel Getting Married is a movie that is full of colour, life and laughs.
- The Allgoods - The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Not wanting to upset their mothers but missing something in their lives, two siblings decide to contact their sperm donor father (Mark Ruffalo) and find that they admire his bohemian lifestyle, while he in turn decides that he wants to be involved in their upbringing.
When the unconventional family comes together, they risk everything they’ve built their lives on in an attempt to fix what they had.
Julianne Moore and Annette Bening take the central roles of Jules and Nic, who had two children Joni and Laser; played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson.
The Kids Are All Right is a terrific movie that explores family values and highlights the difficulties of staying in love and making a relationship work.
What is so great about this movie is that it is a look into the disjointed modern family, the fact that it’s a same-sex relationship really is a bit of a footnote.
The Kids Are All Right is a very intelligent as well as very funny look at adult relationships and the stresses and strains that come hand and hand with them.
- The Ramseys - The Way Way Back (2013)
When Ethan, a quiet and awkward boy, goes on holiday with his mum and her overbearing new boyfriend (Steve Carell), he sets off to find an escape from the pair and comes across a local water park.
He finds an unexpected friend in Will (Sam Rockwell), who hires Ethan to do odd jobs around the park and takes him under his wing as they embark on a life-changing summer for them both.
The Way Way Back was one of my favourite movies of last year, and it had a great central performance from rising talent Liam James.
The Way Way Back is a sharply written comedy about a boy coming of age: Duncan is someone who is struggling with the new family dynamic and finding his place in the world.
This is an honest and intelligent movie that is packed with charms as well as laughs. James, Rockwell, Carell, and Toni Collette all give terrific performances in this ensemble piece.
- The Blooms - Wish I Was Here (2014)
Struggling actor Aiden (Zach Braff) is forced to home school his children after his father gets sick and can no longer afford to pay for their education.
Whilst trying to get through to them and teach them about the world his own way, he realises that he has held onto his dream for too long, to the detriment of the family, and sets about helping his wife and children grasp their dreams instead.
Wish I Was Here comes to cinemas September 19th.
Tagged in Little Miss Sunshine