Revisiting ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’
Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums | Credit: Touchstone Pictures
When the dysfunctional Tenenbaums gather under one roof, an escalating series of shocking events ensues.
I was a little late to the Wes Anderson hype train. The Royal Tenenbaums was actually my introduction to this writer and director around 2012. My roommate had this film on DVD and it’s one that we watched with some regularity. We would laugh at the dark humor and grimace at some of the more cringey moments, which there are quite a few in this film.
I watched this film quite a bit in the year and a half we lived together, but I haven’t revisited it since then. So it was a joy to be back with these characters once again.
What strikes me the most about this rewatch is seeing the beginnings of what Wes Anderson would become. In 2001, Anderson had a very clear style and vision, but it’s pretty toned down compared to some of his more recent work, where his vision has been more fully realized. When he made The Royal Tenenbaums, he wasn’t the star that he is today, and yet the color palette, quirky characters, and unique voice are all apparent.
One interesting aspect of this film is how unglamorous the city looks. The Royal Tenenbaums is not set in New York City, but it was filmed there. I really love seeing this city shot in such a straightforward manner. In so many films, New York City is given some gloss and transformed into a magical place. But in this film, about this wealthy and dysfunctional family, the city is a little drab. You see trash littering the sidewalks. The taxis are older and off-brand. The city itself seems like its best days are behind it.
This is the perfect setting for this quirky family that is just trying to make it through each day.
Gene Hackman in The Royal Tenenbaums | Credit: Touchstone Pictures
While the color palette might not be as vibrant as later entries into Wes Anderson’s filmography, his characters are still incredibly distinctive. Each one has a unique look and a larger-than-life personality to match.
There are so many good performances in this film, but a standout to me is Gene Hackman as Royal Tenenbaum. This man is utterly unlikable, and yet, because of Hackman’s performance, there’s something endearing about this man nearing the end of his life who has some regrets but doesn’t seem to know how to change his behavior.
Throughout the film, he tries to build bridges with his children and grandchildren with some level of success, but each attempt is filled with blunders that show his inexperience in both feelings and human relationships. The film also effectively sows distrust in the audience as we watch Royal on this familial reconciliation tour.
At one point, he takes his two grandsons on a mischief spree throughout the town, which is mostly fun and light-hearted, though they are committing some crimes on this adventure. After this mostly heartwarming scene, we cut to another scene where Royal is manipulating his estranged wife, Etheline (Anjelica Huston). Royal contains multitudes, and the film is intentional in highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of this character.
Royal is also an excellent source of some really dark humor. One of my favorite lines from Royal is, “Hell of a grave; wish it were mine.” This type of gallows humor perfectly sums up this character, who seems to be really talented at doing or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Luke Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums | Credit: Touchstone Pictures
The Royal Tenenbaums is a strong entry into Wes Anderson’s filmography. It contains some truly hilarious dialogue, fantastically colorful characters, and some great shot composition. You can see his distinctive style while stepping into a wild story of a dysfunctional family figuring out how to move forward in life.