This Is Where I Leave You - Review

When their father passes away, four now grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together, abiding by the rules of the traditional weeklong Jewish mourning period ‘Shiva’. Through this period of time the siblings are able to reconnect with each other, while dealing with some rather ‘real’ issues and complications.

Director Shawn Levy (The Internship, Cheaper by the Dozen) delivers us a heartfelt insight into the lives of four siblings and their Mother as they mourn the loss of their father. Taking part in the Jewish custom of ‘Shiva’ the siblings are required to live under one roof at their family home in order to ‘remember’ and cherish fond memories of their father. This film is rather special as it touches base with some very real complications reminding us that life itself, although you may think at times, is never fully perfect. It is a healthy reminder for all that are hooked within the realm of films that provide an audience with a super happy ultimatum along with a cherry on top. Levy with the help of fantastic performances from Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda and Adam Driver deliver to us a heart warming and true insight to life as it is, within the world we reside in.

Bateman and Fey carry the film with an onscreen chemistry that truly feels like a brother and sister duo, although at times the film may seem to be lacking structure, that is carefully covered by an abundance of surprises, where in life anything can really happen, with a clear prod at the essence of what happens behind the scenes. The more distant you are from your life, the more you are bound to miss, while being oblivious to your surroundings, should you let yourself become caught within a web of your career.

The film itself without letting too much out of the bag, is a truly wonderful insight, with just enough emotion to guide you through a tasteful story of siblings that have lost touched, with themselves and one another, as they reminisce in the old times, attempting to once again reconnect while living their own lives.

I give this film a solid 8/10

Reviewed by Mase Shaw - Follow Mase on Twitter @MaseShaw