One of the funniest and yet at the same time most depressing films of the year, "The Squid and the Whale" looks at the true
story of two boys dealing with the difficult divorce of their parents in the 1980''s. What''s funny about it? No matter how screwed up your family is, this family is guaranteed to make yours look like The Partridge''s.
"The Squid and the Whale" stars Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline as Walt and Frank Berkman, two brothers, one in high school, the other in junior high, who struggle through the separation and divorce of their literary parents, played by Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney. After affairs and verbal abuse, the two parents go their separate ways but, trying to keep the family together as much as they can, decide on joint custody - which means the boys literally have to alternate days. Walt blames his mother for the family''s demise, but his anger is short-sided. Furthermore, his obsession with being just like his stuck-up father are damaging other relationships in his life, namely with his girlfriend who is beginning to treat just like his father treated his mother. Hank, entering puberty, is starting to show signs of isolation - drinking, masturbation (well, what he does with the results of masturbation) and so on and so forth. But yes, "The Squid and the Whale" is a comedy.
Like many movies like this, "Whale" is funny because of its quirky, indie feel, and just how screwed up the family is. Every character is well-written and flawed, but those flaws are funny. Walt tries to sound like his father and ends up coming off like an idiot. Just like his dad he makes a fair amount of social blunders. Hank is just screwed up all around. And then there''s William Baldwin in a supporting role, who plays a goofy tennis coach in one of his finest and funniest performances to date. And, don''t forget, "Metamorphosis" has to be Kafkaesque, because it was written by Kafka.