The Family is an inherently absurd movie so if you come to The Family knowing the premise and still ridicule it, you’re the problem. The premise of The Family is that a mafia family is in witness protection in France. What did Robert DeNiro’s character do to tick off his boss? Who knows. It was bad enough that his boss still wants to kill him, and he turned into a rat. Is witness protection really international? Who knows. Somehow DeNiro’s family ends up in an obscure enough part of the French countryside that it has no notable landmarks, but everyone speaks English all the time even when Americans aren’t around. See, the premise is ridiculous.
The Family appeals to people who like the cinematic idea of the mafia, particularly fans of DeNiro’s old work. Those fans don’t think of a realistic mafia, but adore the specter of a badass, unbridled violent and cathartic rage against enemies whether bureaucratic, petty or violent. Most mafia movies show the double life of the gangster-a boisterous, but normal family life and a violent, carousing business life, but every one in The Family is the opposite-a thin veneer of bonhomie and normality with a barely concealed turbulent volcano. Which explains why The Family cast Michelle Pfeiffer, who is famous for similar roles in Scarface, Married to the Mob, Batman Returns and White Oleander. The pleasant surprise and standout is Glee’s Dianna Agron as their daughter who is given a simultaneously trite and intriguing storyline. I haven’t seen The Incredibles, but I wouldn’t be surprised if The Family has more in common with that movie than any mafia film in existence.
Does The Family have a point other than watching and enjoying bad people do bad things and getting away with it? If you squint and look really hard, The Family probably would sing, “I’ve Gotta Be Me” even if there isn’t much me there. If you like movies that are steeped in nostalgia and violence like Stand Up Guys, then give The Family a chance even though it is less focused.