REVIEW
If you've read the book, you've been eagerly awaiting this big screen adaptation for some time. Like the book, the film is both hysterical and scary. Set in the late '70s, the film perfectly captures the era with picture-perfect sets, costumes and music. The autobiographical story by Augusten Burroughs tells of a childhood marred by family addiction, abandonment, just plain eccentricity and a love affair between Augusten, its 15-year-old protagonist (Cross) and Neil Bookman (a barely recognizable Fiennes), a 35-year-old schizophrenic man. A simple plot summary can hardly encapsulate the craziness of this story as written and directed by Ryan Murphy (creator of "Nip/Tuck").

Augusten's mother Deirdre is played with aplomb and high style by Annette Bening in another in a long series of amazing roles. She's an unpublished, deluded poetess who's married to Norman, an alcoholic played with great subtlety by Alec Baldwin (who seems to be everywhere these days!) After severe disfunction gets this wacky unit ground to a halt, Dierdre is sent to a new shrink Dr. Finch (Cox). Dr. Finch recommends that Deirdre end her marriage to Norman and park her son with his family. This will give Deirdre "room to breathe." So Norman is packed off to a home that makes the Addams Family look like the Cleavers. The Finches, as played to a tee by Evan Rachel Wood, Jill Clayburgh and Gwyneth Paltrow, are truly insane. Augusten quickly adapts to his new surroundings. He and his adopted sister decided one day to cut a hole in the kitchen ceiling to let the light in. When Dr. Finch sees it, he remarks "I like it, the hole gives the kitchen some much needed humor." When Augusten comes out to his sister Natalie, she introduces him to their 35-year-old banished gay brother Neil (Fiennes), who hears voices. They fall quickly in lust, and no one seems to disapprove of this relationship, which many parents might consider innapropriate – it's actually encouraged. Meanwhile Deirdre is busy re-inventing herself as a lesbian. One of her two girlfriends is the amazing and under-utilized Kristin Chenoweth (Broadway's Wicked). There's too much plot here to tell more – you'll have to see the film and get more nuggets to tell at parties.

Amazing performances, spectacular sets and costumes, fun soundtrack and lots of disfunction make this the perfect family gathering film.

SeattleFilmLover wrote on 06/23/2009:

Chicago Viewer wrote on 05/29/2007:

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