A far-from-perfect family

MANILA, Philippines - A heartfelt dramatic comedy, Miramax Films’ Everybody’s Fine presents a family picture that is all too common in our modern world — parents and siblings living hundreds of miles apart, too distracted with the stress of modern life to find time to call each other and too preoccupied with their own family and friends to find time to visit home.

To be shown soon exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma), Everybody’s Fine stars Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell. The film was written and directed by Kirk Jones based on Stanno Tutti Bene originally written and directed in the Italian language by Academy Award winner Giuseppe Tornatore in 1990. Original music is by Academy Award winner Dario Marianelli with an original song written for the film by Sir Paul McCartney.

In the film, Frank Goode (De Niro) has spent his adult life working in a local wire factory earning every dollar he can to support his family. Recently retired, he realizes that over the years he has spent too little time with his four children and that it’s time to reconnect.

Frank’s late wife was always his main point of contact with his kids but he decides that it’s now his responsibility to keep an eye on them. He is inspired to invite the whole extended family for a barbecue weekend. Preparations go well until one by one, such is modern life, they all have good reason to cancel.

Despite a strict warning from his doctor, Frank packs a bag before setting out on a journey across the US to surprise each of his children and wallow in their success and happiness.

He travels to see his son David “the artist” in New York, a daughter who is “high up in advertising” in Chicago, his son Robert “the orchestral conductor” in Denver and finally Rosie his youngest, a “dancer in a Vegas show.” But before long it becomes clear to Frank that his children are not quite as happy or successful as his wife had always reported.