This Is Where I Leave You

What makes the dysfunctional family reunion in This Is Where I Leave You different from the many other on-screen dysfunctional family reunions? Not much, except perhaps that it doesn’t take place during the holidays.

While we’re spared that contrivance, the rest of this comedy from director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) mostly feels like a failed sitcom pilot, with a normally reliable ensemble cast that’s unfortunately squandered by the subpar material.

The cause for the reunion of the Altman family is the death of its patriarch, leading his widow (Jane Fonda) to bring together all four of her grown children for a week, claiming their father’s last wish was for them to sit shiva — a Jewish tradition of mourning — even though the family isn’t really Jewish.

The kids see through that excuse but agree to her wishes anyway, leading to seven days of arguing over relationship turmoil and past grudges. There’s Judd (Jason Bateman), a radio producer whose personal life is a mess; Paul (Corey Stoll), who is feeling the financial pinch after taking over the family store; Phillip (Adam Driver), who is trying to prove that he’s matured since his younger rapscallion days; and Wendy (Tina Fey), who tries to play referee between the boys while dealing with her own guilt stemming from a past tragedy.

Shenanigans ensue, but the laughter is intended to mask the pain, of course, as the Altmans takes their obligatory path to catharsis right down to the inevitable giant dinner-table sequence. The family members take turns dropping bombshells and belting out big emotional outbursts.

The uneven screenplay by Jonathan Tropper, based on his novel, features some scattered amusing one-liners amid its low-brow tendencies, but too often lacks subtlety and opts for cheap sentimentality. Only sporadically does it feel authentic with regard to the grieving process.

As the clan spends the bulk of the film airing its dirty laundry, the bickering grows tiresome after a while, to the point where you think the father might have gotten the best deal being six feet under. At least This Is Where I Leave You unintentionally leaves you feeling better about your own family by comparison.

Rated R, 103 minutes.