Igby Goes Down

Released 2002
Stars Kieran Culkin, Susan Sarandon, Jeff Goldblum, Claire Danes, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman, Amanda Peet, Jared Harris
Directed by Burr Steers

To say the Slocumbs are a dysfunctional family is as much of an understatement as saying George W. Bush has a grudge against Saddam Hussein. The two Slocumb boys, Igby (Kieran Culkin) and Oliver (Ryan Phillippe), are given all of the economic advantages in life but nothing else. Their mother Mimi (Susan Sarandon) is a hyper-critical, pill-popping, social climber with all the sardonic motherly warmth of Truman Capote. We suspect their father (Bill Pullman) is the warmth of the family, but that warmth would never extend as far as a simple hug. He does have kind words for the boys, though, before he becomes institutionalized due to schizophrenia. "Igby Goes Down" uses this familial setup to create a darkly funny coming-of-age story that has just enough heart for us to care while we're laughing.

Summary by Bill Alward, February 22, 2003

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