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The greatest goal of a parent is to do half the damage to your children than your parents did to you.
Ira Stuckman (Michael Lerner) is a big, gruff, loud-mouthed guy, but when he's in the presence of his father, Artur (Jack Klugman), Ira becomes that broken child again. He has to listen to his father's stories of how Artur brought young Ira to the United States after losing his beloved wife, two young sons, and a young daughter in the Holocaust.
And now, Ira and his family are preparing for the Passover Seder. His wife Peggy (Leslie Ann Warren) is, for the first time ever, preparing a kosher seder because their son Ethan (Max Greenfield) has recently become orthodox, complete with Hassidic beard. Peggy has even had a ceremonial tent erected in the back yard for the feast.
Other family members attending the Seder are Ira's oldest daughter Jennifer (Meredith Scott Lynn) who is a lesbian and brings her partner Grace (Cynda Williams) to meet the family. Nikki (Shiri Appleby) is a sex surrogate who is the apple of Ira's eye. Ira accepts her career choice while Peggy detests it openly. Zeke (Jeff D'Agostino) is the druggy college son who skips classes and is a big disappointment to both of his parent. Lionel (Adam Lamberg) is the teenage son who is autistic. Cousin-once-removed Vanessa (Mili Avetal), a celebrity publicist, also attends, and as in past years, catches the eye of the now devout Ethan. Rafi (Mark Ivanir) is the Israeli Mosha Dayan-clone who rented them the tent and who Peggy invites to stay on for the feast.
Ira, though not a practicing Jew and the owner of Christmas ornament company, feels obligated to carry out the traditions in what he calls "the fastest Seder in the world." But when Zeke slips the psychedelic ecstasy into Ira's antacid, the rights and rituals take on a whole new meaning to Ira as he sees the dinner in slow motion and psychedelic colors.
In it's own way, the traditional Passover story from the Book of Malachai complete with Ira's children playing out the roles of the legendary "four sons" -- the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who doesn't know how to ask.
A very funny and touching story with insights into Jewish culture and tradition, tradition! And ultimately how one family puts aside the hurt from the past to heal the family.
With some interesting bonus material that further explains the film. I found it interesting that one of the rabbis said, "Loving one's children is not using money to control them."
Written by Salvador Litvak with his wife Nina Davidovich, and directed by Litvak.
Run time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Rated R.
My personal rating: B
Ira Stuckman (Michael Lerner) is a big, gruff, loud-mouthed guy, but when he's in the presence of his father, Artur (Jack Klugman), Ira becomes that broken child again. He has to listen to his father's stories of how Artur brought young Ira to the United States after losing his beloved wife, two young sons, and a young daughter in the Holocaust.
And now, Ira and his family are preparing for the Passover Seder. His wife Peggy (Leslie Ann Warren) is, for the first time ever, preparing a kosher seder because their son Ethan (Max Greenfield) has recently become orthodox, complete with Hassidic beard. Peggy has even had a ceremonial tent erected in the back yard for the feast.
Other family members attending the Seder are Ira's oldest daughter Jennifer (Meredith Scott Lynn) who is a lesbian and brings her partner Grace (Cynda Williams) to meet the family. Nikki (Shiri Appleby) is a sex surrogate who is the apple of Ira's eye. Ira accepts her career choice while Peggy detests it openly. Zeke (Jeff D'Agostino) is the druggy college son who skips classes and is a big disappointment to both of his parent. Lionel (Adam Lamberg) is the teenage son who is autistic. Cousin-once-removed Vanessa (Mili Avetal), a celebrity publicist, also attends, and as in past years, catches the eye of the now devout Ethan. Rafi (Mark Ivanir) is the Israeli Mosha Dayan-clone who rented them the tent and who Peggy invites to stay on for the feast.
Ira, though not a practicing Jew and the owner of Christmas ornament company, feels obligated to carry out the traditions in what he calls "the fastest Seder in the world." But when Zeke slips the psychedelic ecstasy into Ira's antacid, the rights and rituals take on a whole new meaning to Ira as he sees the dinner in slow motion and psychedelic colors.
In it's own way, the traditional Passover story from the Book of Malachai complete with Ira's children playing out the roles of the legendary "four sons" -- the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who doesn't know how to ask.
A very funny and touching story with insights into Jewish culture and tradition, tradition! And ultimately how one family puts aside the hurt from the past to heal the family.
With some interesting bonus material that further explains the film. I found it interesting that one of the rabbis said, "Loving one's children is not using money to control them."
Written by Salvador Litvak with his wife Nina Davidovich, and directed by Litvak.
Run time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Rated R.
My personal rating: B
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