Ben is going about his life with his wife and kid in the city, when his doorbell rings unexpectedly. Its his dad, Sam, who just has shown up. No, nothing is wrong says dad. But it turns out, his wife has left him.
So begins The Thing About My Folks (2005). Paul Reiser plays the son and the tremendous Peter Falk plays Sam. And the two end up on a road trip together that is at times campy, and other times so real, that it is uncomfortable.
Falk is just amazing here, and Reiser seems to let himself not get caught up in ego, but seems content to just play off Falk. There is scene on the road with the two, where Ben is accusing Sam of somehow neglecting his wife and family. And he sounds convincing. Until Sam chimes in. "Bullshit!" he say. And we start to see his sacrifices, his temptations and his morality.
This film is filled with light moments and profound moments. And I didn't go much for the ending. But the part (and it is most of the movie) with Falk and Reiser...pure gold. And there are other scenes, like the conference call among the siblings, that is just SO real, it is difficult not to laugh at ourselves.
It was written by Reiser, and you can only think he was so grateful that Falk played this part. Really one of those unknown, unheralded movies that is much better than its publicity.
At least that is my opinion.
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