Starring:
Jami Gertz as Joanne Fiedler
Daryl Hannah as Sacred Feather/Sandy
Garry Marshall as Irwin Fiedler
Jeremy Piven as Adam Fiedler
Doris Roberts as Rose Fiedler
Daryl Sabara as Benjamin Fiedler
Larry Miller as Arnie Stein
Cheryl Hines as Casey Nudelman
Richard Benjamin as Rabbi Schulberg
Marc John Jefferies as Tim
Tom Hines as Master of Ceremonies
Carter Jenkins as Zachary Stein
Sandra Taylor as Raylene Stein
Miranda Cosgrove as Karen Sussman
Brittany Robertson as Ashley Grunwald
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
“Keeping Up with the Steins”: Behind-The-Scenes
Feature Commentary with Director Scott Marshall & Writer/Producer Mark Zakarin
Father and Son Feature Commentary with Director Scott Marshall and actor Gary Marshall
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.85:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish Language
French Subtitles
Running Time: 99 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the DVD cover:
“All hilarity breaks loose in this heartwarming coming-of-age comedy when three generations collide in a crazy family reunion . . . and then begin to see that they are much more alike than they’d originally thought! Providing nonstop laughs In the tradition of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding,’ ‘Keeping Up with the Steins’ stars Jeremy Piven, Jami Gertz, Daryl Hannah and Garry Marshall. Also starring Doris Roberts, Cheryl Hines and Larry Miller.”
“Keeping Up with the Steins” is rated PG-13 for some crude language, nudity, and brief drug references.
Mini-Review:
“Keeping Up with the Steins” starts out promising enough. We see a bar mitzvah run amok as the rich Stein parents stage a Titanic themed celebration aboard a cruise ship complete with mermaids, actresses, and a full stage. Its incredibly over-the-top and you expect the Fiedler family to do their best to top the Steins. Unfortunately this rivalry never really develops to its comic potential. Instead the film takes a left turn and ends up being more about a family reconnecting and the true meaning of a bar mitzvah. This is fine and all, but not as entertaining as where it might have gone if it had stuck with the opening act. The final result is also probably going to be enjoyed much more by Jewish audiences since much of the humor is aimed at them.
The cast is great, but they don’t have much to work with. Oddly enough Jeremy Piven plays a Hollywood agent again. This is like the third time in recent memory that he’s played an agent. Meanwhile Daryl Sabara graduates from the “Spy Kids” trilogy. And I’d compliment Gary Marshall, but seeing him naked negates that.
In short, this movie isn’t all that great and could have been a lot better then it ended up being. As for the DVD, it contains your standard offerings such as a commentary, deleted scenes, and a behind-the-scenes featurette.
