In their youth, the Tenenbaums--an eccentric New York family--were extraordinary. They were all geniuses. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) was a successful litigator. His wife Etheline (Angelica Huston) raised their children to be ambitious, entrepreneurial, and creative--then published an acclaimed book about her child-rearing techniques. Adopted daughter Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a gifted playwright. Son Chas (Ben Stiller) was a masterful businessman with a taste for real estate. And the other son, Richie (Luke Wilson), was a natural tennis champ. However, when Royal packed up his life and left his wife and his family in a cloud of betrayal, everything fell apart. Twenty years later, the Tenenbaums are a dejected and alienated bunch, each having found that their early successes did not carry over into adulthood. When washed-up Royal learns that his distant wife Etheline, who has become an archaeologist, may remarry, he feigns illness as an excuse to reunite with his estranged family.

From Wes Anderson, director of RUSHMORE, this film is full of quirky comedy that will have audiences reeling and reflecting simultaneously. The brilliant script is impeccable with choppy, intentionally awkward language delivered with dry wit by the well-appointed (almost too good to be true) cast. Dramatic sets are emphasized by the film's masterful orchestration of scene changes and chapter separations. The photography beautifully captures a faded, vintage 1980s New York. And the eclectic soundtrack features much-loved tunes by Nico, The Velvet Underground, The Clash, and the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Theatrical release: December 14, 2001 (NY/LA)
December 21, 2001

DVD Features:

Region 1
2-Disc Set
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.40:1
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
DTS Surround 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Audio Commentary - 1. Wes Anderson - Director
Production Interview - 1. Cast & Crew
Behind the Scenes Footage
Bonus Feature - 1. THE PETER BRADLEY SHOW
Making-of - 1. THE ART OF THE MOVIE
Featurette - 1. WITH THE FILMMAKER: PORTRAITS BY ALBERT MAYSLES
Trailers
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Additional Products - 1. Booklet

Distributor Notes: The Royal Tenenbaums

Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and his wife, Etheline (Anjelica Huston), had three children -- Chas, Margot, and Richie -- and then they separated. Chas (Ben Stiller) started buying real estate in his early teens and seemed to have an almost preternatural understanding of international finance. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a playwright and received a Braverman Grant of $50,000 in the ninth grade. Richie (Luke Wilson) was a junior champion tennis player and won the U.S. Nationals three years in a row. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Touchstone Home Entertainment is proud to present Wes Anderson's hilarious, touching, and brilliantly stylized study of melancholy and redemption.

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Gene Hackman: American Actor
Ben Stiller: American Director/Actor, MEET THE PARENTS (2000)
Gwyneth Paltrow: Oscar Winning Actress, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
Anjelica Huston: American actress, THE GRIFTERS/THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
Luke Wilson: Actor
Danny Glover: American actor
Owen Wilson: Actor/Screenwriter
Bill Murray: American actor, LOST IN TRANSLATION, MEATBALLS

Wes Anderson: Director/Screenwriter

Barry Mendel: Producer, 'Rushmore' (1999)
Scott Rudin: Producer/Executive
Wes Anderson: Director/Screenwriter

Owen Wilson: Actor/Screenwriter
Wes Anderson: Director/Screenwriter

Mark Mothersbaugh: Film and TV Composer, RUSHMORE (1998)

Dylan Tichenor: 

"...Endearing....Mr. Anderson presents each of these characters -- and several more -- with the fastidious care of a collector arranging prize specimens on a shelf..."
"...[Wilson] has a funny turn as a macho, adventure-seeking author. The film grows on you..."
"...Nuanced, multilayered and oftentimes most poignant when its humor is at is darkest, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS is one of those rare Hollywood products that assumes a mature intelligence among its audience..."
"...The script is rich with subtle humour and the cast deliver it with deadpan, borderline camp elan....Anderson keeps things moving with a stylish simplicity that catches every glance, sigh and gesture..."
"...The rivalry between the three siblings is particularly well caught....The split-second connections, meanwhile, are intensely moving....The tracks here knead the emotion into your brain and become inseparable from it..."
"...There are big laughs, quiet moments when we're touched, and then the rug gets pulled out with deadpan audacity....Funny....With unexpected emotional twists..."
"...TENENBAUMS is intricate, fine-stitched, embroidered with sumptuous details..."