Mother Father Sister Brother Frank (2024) | I clicked on this amusing, well-acted film not knowing what to expect and I appreciated the dark humor aside from some irritating style choices. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 5.4/10. I went in blind on this dark comedy that plays out like a stage production adapted for the screen. The premise is simple but engaging: a suburban family finds their Sunday dinner disrupted when their uncle Frank crashes the gathering with an unexpected revelation, leading to a chaotic plot of murder.

One of the highlights of the film is seeing Mindy Cohn again—yes, Natalie from The Facts of Life—which adds a nostalgic touch for me. The movie has a strong ensemble cast, and the chemistry between the titular Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, and Frank is well-executed. The story itself is tightly woven, with plenty of moments that land well in the comedy department. However, a few key choices keep it from being as sharp as it could be.

For one, the film has an incredibly frustrating tendency for characters to constantly talk over one another. While it’s clearly meant to mimic real-life family dynamics, it quickly becomes grating. Additionally, the characters make an excessive number of dumb decisions—perhaps an intentional nod to their "ordinary people" status, but it often feels like a stretch when obvious, better solutions are ignored.

The horror tag is also misleading. While the movie revolves around a murder plot, it takes an excruciatingly long time for any actual death to occur. I don't mean in runtime, actual single death duration and the joke long overstays its welcome. Instead, the film leans heavily into a particular style of dark humor that will either click with audiences or leave them annoyed.

Ultimately, Mother Father Sister Brother Frank is an amusing, well-acted film with a distinct personality, but its shortcomings, especially the overlapping dialogue and questionable character logic, hold it back. It’s the kind of movie that some will love for its quirks, while others will find those same quirks frustrating. Personally, while I appreciated some of the humor, those issues kept me from rating it much higher.

Mother Father Sister Brother Frank (2024)

Amazon along with a handful of streamers have this one for home viewing.

https://jackmeat.com/mother-father-sister-brother-frank-2024/