The Thing About My Folks

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The Thing About My Folks

PG-13

Released Sep 16, 2005

1h 37m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

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63 Reviews

51%

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10,000+ Ratings

Ben Kleinman (Paul Reiser) gets a surprise visit from his father, Sam (Peter Falk), who shows him a vague note from his mother indicating that she's left, and Sam has no idea where she's gone. While Ben's sisters mobilize in an effort to find their mother, he and Sam decide to hit the open road together. After looking at a farmhouse that Ben and his wife are considering buying, father and son continue traveling, sleeping outdoors, venting old frustrations -- and ultimately bonding.

Critics Consensus

The Thing About My Folks lacks cohesiveness, and the cloying tone makes the talkiness grating.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 18, 2012

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Susan Walker

Toronto Star

Reiser, a famous face from the long-running TV series Mad About You, here proves himself to be a skilful writer and actor for the big screen.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 30, 2005

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Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Two men of very different generations coming to understand and appreciate each other makes for some fine moments. And that's just the actors.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 30, 2005

Full Review

Stefan Ulstein

Christianity Today

Reiser has given us a film that makes us laugh while contemplating the ways we understand and misunderstand those we love.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 2, 2006

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 5/5

May 12, 2006

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Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

Moderately appealing.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 1, 2006

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Audience Member

A good movie for couples and multigenerational families to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Very good movie. Made me laugh a lot too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Semmi újat nem alkotott, gyenge.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I fell asleep watching this and all I heard was Peter Falk and Paul Reiser constantly talking while sleeping....not sure if I want to try it again.....

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

What an amazing and magnificent movie. It`s hilarious, deeply moving and utterly satisfying. A masterpiece of comedy and drama well rounded into a real joy of a film. Some of the best and most realistic character work i have ever seen ina film. It delivers unstoppable laughs from start to finish. Peter Falk and Paul Reiser give outstanding and beautiful performances. Falk is brilliant, he gives one of the bet screen performances of 2005. Weiser is excellent, he writes as well as performs superbly in this film. A stunning and well-crafted picture.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

This one was really good. Shame it only had a limited release

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

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Raymond De Felitta

Director

Peter Falk

Sam Kleinman

Paul Reiser

Ben Kleinman

Olympia Dukakis

Muriel Kleinman

Elizabeth Perkins

Rachel Kleinman

Mackenzie Connolly

Lilly Kleinman

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Synopsis

Ben Kleinman (Paul Reiser) gets a surprise visit from his father, Sam (Peter Falk), who shows him a vague note from his mother indicating that she's left, and Sam has no idea where she's gone. While Ben's sisters mobilize in an effort to find their mother, he and Sam decide to hit the open road together. After looking at a farmhouse that Ben and his wife are considering buying, father and son continue traveling, sleeping outdoors, venting old frustrations -- and ultimately bonding.

Director: Raymond De Felitta
Producer: Paul Reiser, Bobby Newmyer, Jeffrey Silver, Bobby Newmyer
Screenwriter: Paul Reiser
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: Outlaw Productions, Picturehouse
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Some Suggestive References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $814.7K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)