Stuart Saves His Family

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Stuart Saves His Family

PG-13

Released Apr 12, 1995

1h 35m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

30%

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27 Reviews

53%

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2,500+ Ratings

New Age therapist Stuart Smalley (Al Franken) tries to rid his family of substance abuse and co-dependency.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

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Joe Leydon

Variety

It isn't good enough, it isn't smart enough, and, doggone it, most people won't like Stuart Saves His Family.

May 14, 2008

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Even if you find Franken hard to bear, as I do, the movie's take on how he functions in the world is both authoritative and compelling, and the movie steadily grows in stature.

May 14, 2008

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Wisely, "Stuart Saves His Family" attempts something tougher than the usual "SNL" movie, painting a fully fleshed-out portrait of seriocomic misery. In a subgenre littered with films worth forgetting, here is one that's good enough and smart enough.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 26, 2015

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TV Guide

Often funny, darker than you'd expect, and firmly grounded in Franken's extensive experience of the 12-Step worldview.

Rated: 3/4

May 14, 2008

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Film4

Played unsuccessfully for laughs, it is ploddingly directed. And proudly proclaimed as a Ramis film. After this he should change his name or profession.

Rated: 0/5

May 14, 2008

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Diane S

I loved this movie! It’s especially a great movie for 12 step program aficionados. I’ve seen it several times and I laugh every time I see it. Siskel and Ebert got it right as they both gave it a thumbs up. Don’t miss this movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

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Burt S

It's a great comedy, Franken's a brilliant comic writer and performer and was an even better Senator. Like a number of reviewers here who loved the movie, it's hard to understand why so many others hated it. Sure it's unusual; that's what makes the really good movies really good! There's nothing else like it. Stuart to his sister who has an eating disorder, but is panicking about something and feeling desperate: "Listen -- can you get to a pound cake?" I mean...who else writes like that??

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/23

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Audience Member

This movie is one of my favorite movies and I watch it every holiday season. Funny, incredibly clever, and it makes me feel good and focus on the good things in my life. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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Audience Member

Sweet, poignant, funny. Without being vapid or cruel. I thought it did a great job with "balance", as this could easily go too far in one or another direction. It also did a good job with the backstory, which didn't make anything clunky or too trite, even with textbook issues. I loved how he acknowledges his stuff without taking himself too seriously. Maybe you need to really like satire to appreciate it? (Which I do). Many hilarious moments for me, and it's sort of like a little dose of sunshine. One of those movies that would be good to have on the shelf to pull out on occasion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

I was taken aback by this film. It isn't so much a comedy as it is a comedy-drama where Al Franken's titular character is a doggone likeable son of a gun in an endearing plot that deals with the struggles of dysfunctional families.  I commend this film's ambitions to be both light and heavy with a happy heart.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Well written, directed and acted. Truly an under rated flick. Funny with a lot of heart.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Harold Ramis

Director

Al Franken

Stuart Smalley

Laura San Giacomo

Julia

Vincent D'Onofrio

Donnie

Shirley Knight

Mom

Harris Yulin

Dad

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Synopsis

New Age therapist Stuart Smalley (Al Franken) tries to rid his family of substance abuse and co-dependency.

Director: Harold Ramis
Producer: Lorne Michaels, Trevor Albert
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Broadway Pictures, Constellation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 1995, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $718.5K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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