The Thing About My Folks

The Thing About My Folks is a heartwarming comedy-drama film from the year 2005. It stars Paul Reiser, Peter Falk, and Olympia Dukakis as its main characters. The film is directed by Raymond De Felitta and written by Reiser himself.

The story of the film revolves around a father and son duo named Sam Kleinman and Ben Kleinman. Ben is a successful writer and enjoys a good relationship with his wife and daughter. But everything changes when he receives a call from his mother informing him that his father, Sam, has left the house without telling anyone where he is going.

At first, Ben is not too worried about his father's disappearance, as Sam has always been a bit of an unpredictable character. However, as the days pass by and there is still no sign of his father, Ben starts to get concerned. He decides to go on a road trip with his father to reconnect with him and to understand what's going on in his father's life.

As they go on their journey, they talk about everything under the sun, from the trivialities of life to the larger issues that shape who we are as people. Along the way, Ben discovers a lot about his father that he never knew before. He learns that Sam has always been a bit of a vagabond, a person who values his freedom and independence above all else. It is this sense of adventure and passion for life that has kept Sam going for all these years.

Throughout the film, we see how the relationship between Ben and Sam evolves. They have their ups and downs, but ultimately they come to a deeper understanding of each other. They learn to appreciate the differences in their personalities and come to accept each other, warts and all.

What makes The Thing About My Folks such a heartwarming film is the authenticity of the performances by the cast. Peter Falk, in particular, shines as the patriarch of the family. His performance is both funny and poignant, and he steals every scene that he is in. Paul Reiser, who also wrote the screenplay, gives a solid performance as Ben, the uptight son who needs to learn how to relax and enjoy life.

Olympia Dukakis plays Muriel, Sam's wife and Ben's mother. Although she is not in the film for very long, her character is an important part of the story. She provides a strong voice of reason and represents the stability that Sam and Ben both need in their lives.

Overall, The Thing About My Folks is a delightful film that is perfect for a family movie night. It has something for everyone – humor, drama, and a heartwarming story that will leave you feeling good inside.