Dysfunctonal family dramas  are not my favourite genre of movie. They often recycle plots and tropes  from other classics, such as Terms of Endearment, which is the gold standard. There is always a black sheep of the family that comes back home after a long absence to help with a family crisis. There is usually an old girlfiend that still lives in the same town and is surprisingly, not married . What elevates a drama for me is the casting choices, chemistry between the actors , and the acting range shown,  A satisfying family drama has to make me both laugh and cry . This is Where I Leave You , a similar  movie where a son had unresolved father -son issues was  well acted, but the script was average, I did laugh but was never moved enough o cry .

Downey and Duvall did make me cry, as well most of the female audience members in the theater!  Downey still has the cocky confidence of Tony Stark , but without the smartass quips, gadgets, or Pepper Potts to back him up. This is the most range he has shown since being nominated for Chaplin 15 years ago , and his first drama since 2009’s The Soloist , which I also enjoyed.

Ever since Robert Duvall’s  breakthrough role in To Kill a Mockingbird as Boo Radley, he hasn’t given a bad performance. Initially unlikable, his humanity and core decency shines through making him a very sympathetic character by the end.

I thought the casting of Billy Bob Thornton as the opposing counsel, was perfect , as well as Vera Farmigia  ( Up in the Air)  who was his first serious girlfriend , but after a bad car accident  and a big fight with his father , Hank decides to leave town for good after a rock concert.

The courtroom scenes were phenomenal , and although the movie is 142 minutes long, it never dragged once and I could have watch another hour. My dad liked it so much he stayed until all the end credits were done .

It is a 4.5 out of 5, my Top Movie of 2014, and I really think  1 or both of the lead actors will receive Oscar nominations .