The Talent Given Us (2004)

59% of critics liked it
(49 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(101 ratings)

Fact and fiction begin to blur in this comedy drama in which a filmmaker casts his parents, his siblings, and himself in a story loosely adapted from their own lives and personalities. Judy and Allen Wagner (played by Judy Wagner and Allen Wagner) are an elderly couple living in New York City who… More Fact and fiction begin to blur in this comedy drama in which a filmmaker casts his parents, his siblings, and himself in a story loosely adapted from their own lives and personalities. Judy and Allen Wagner (played by Judy Wagner and Allen Wagner) are an elderly couple living in New York City who haven't seen their son, Andrew (Andrew Wagner), in some time. Deciding it's time they paid him a visit, Judy and Allen pack up their van and head out to Los Angeles, where Andrew is trying to make a name for himself as a director and screenwriter. Along the way, Judy and Allen decide to bring their daughters, Maggie (Maggie Wagner) and Emily (Emily Wagner), and the camera plays "fly on the wall" as Judy and Allen openly ponder the successes and failings of their children while they work on crossword puzzles, stop for meals, engage in small talk, and deal with the presence of fellow traveler Bumby (Judy Dixon). The first feature from Andrew Wagner, The Talent Given Us was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 CineVegas Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Andrew Wagner
Written By: Andrew Wagner
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 11, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Mar 7, 2006

Critic Reviews

Shauna Lyon, New Yorker
The notion that there is no escape from one's family is elevated-and ameliorated-by the inkling that the Wagners' story is, in fact, real.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Ultimately, the movie isn't as strong as the idea behind the movie, or the people inside that idea.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
What initially seems hard to watch, even excruciating at times, becomes hard not to, a fascinating fiction that seems to be more real than just about any actual documentary you can imagine.
Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune
If you enjoy HBO's cult hit Curb Your Enthusiasm, you're almost guaranteed to enjoy this bawdy, heartbreaking, deeply discomfiting mockumentary.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A brave, funny, affecting film.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
A work of inspired, embarrassingly hilarious, uncomfortable fiction.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
The ranting, whining, kvetching, self-involved family begins to outstay its welcome [...] so that time spent with them can feel like entrapment at a raucous bar mitzvah reception.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
The unwashed talent and originality of "The Talent Given Us" makes it a compelling and fascinating film.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Maybe Andrew Wagner was hoping they would be endearingly human, but instead they come off as annoying, hardly the type of people we want to be stuck with for an hour and a half.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
The result is a funny and sometimes touching docu-comedy, sort of like watching your parents if they were in the middle of a Woody Allen movie.
Damon Smith, Time Out New York
Faux documentary, home movie or unexpurgated family therapy? The Talent Given Us, a funny, surprising ride with a mercurial New York clan, is all three.
Christopher Kelly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
[A] one-of-a-kind movie that sends the family road-trip genre happily spinning into these self-obsessed, overanalytical times; it's National Lampoon's Vacation as re-imagined by Dr. Phil.
Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, Metro Times (Detroit, MI)
Deftly embraces some of the trademarks of documentary and cinema verité (using handheld cameras and non-actors, and shooting all on location) to effectively blur fact and fiction.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
It's tough to describe The Talent Given Us, which is why it's fascinating.