Product Details

• Actors: Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, Matthew Broderick, Rosanna DeSoto, Janet Carroll
• Directors: Sidney Lumet
• Writers: Vincent Patrick
• Producers: Burtt Harris, Jennifer Ogden, Lawrence Gordon
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 22, 1994
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0800101626
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,634 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1989 film, directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon) brings together three notable actors in a story of generational and familial loyalty and crime. While ultimately a somewhat thin story, the film succeeds in great measure because of its powerful actors, who rise above the implausible casting to play three generations of men (Scottish, Italian, and Jewish) who each in their own way try to deny their roots. Matthew Broderick plays Adam, an MIT scholar who yearns for more excitement from life. He enlists the aid of his grandfather Jesse (Sean Connery)--a tough, lifelong thief--to steal some biological materials for a big payoff. But Adam's father, Vito (Dustin Hoffman), who went straight to get away from Jesse's lifestyle and to provide a stable life for his son, finds himself dragged back into Jesse's criminal world in order to protect Adam. When the heist goes sour, Vito must decide where his true loyalties lie. The whole affair has a light, breezy atmosphere to it, but the performances give this film weight and make it a worthwhile diversion. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mega Stars Break and Enter For Mega Bucks!, September 7, 2005

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Family Business (DVD)

This review refers to the DVD edition(Columbia/Tri-Star) of "Family Business"...

Three generations of the McMullen men are going to go into a business venture together. The men; Sean Connery as Grandpa Jessie, who is an aging thief, and is real good at it. Vito, Jessie's son, is Dustin Hoffman. He's been around Jessie and his capers long enough to learn his lessons. Go into a legitimate business and play it safe. It is Matthew Broderick who completes this awesome trio of talent as Adam, the youngest of the McMullens. Brillant mind, Westinghouse scholar, Vito knows his son will really make something of himself. So when it
is Adam who comes to the two elders with the business venture; a plan to make a million dollars, by doing a little breaking and entering job, they are taken aback, but not backing out!

Jessie jumps at the chance to feel the thrill of the take once more. Vito is not quite for it, but he goes along anyway, you know... to watch out for his son(yeah right!). Watching these three mega stars, preparing for the big heist is a fun view, with some great dialouge. They have a high time filling their Kmart carts with all the tools of the trade, as Broderick pipes in "do ya think this is really necessary, I mean I do have a key card to get in?". They don their burgler outfits, each father, helping their son, get the fit just right. Connery to Hoffman: "This is why I hated those snow suits!" They go over the plan. In and out, no problems. It's fail-safe!...Or is it?

"Family Business" combines a fun story of the hesit, with a bit of a sentimental look at father and son relationships, along with the family bonding and traditions. The story takes the family a little further, giving each generation a different cultural take. Jessie is as Irish as they come. His wife, Vito's mother was Italian. Vito 's wife is Jewish, and Adam carries a bit of each in his genes., and carries them well. He always seem to know just the right thing to say to each generation to smooth things over.

It's a fun ride with these wonderful stars altogether in one film. One that will have you smiling, and rooting for them, even though they are up to no good. It is directed by the great Sidney Lumet, who brings us some wonderful shots of New York along the way.

If you are a fan of any of these three stars, and have missed this fabulous feature, it's a must see. The DVD has a very good picture in widescreen with excellent sound Dolby Surround(2-channel). There are subtitles in English and French, and aside from some theatrical trailers, there are no bonus features.

What a family!...Connery, Hoffman, and Broderick...it's a fail- safe plan!....enjoy...Laurie

also recommended:
Man With One Red Shoe [VHS]

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars With a Family like this..., February 7, 2007

By 

Bennet Pomerantz "Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD" (College Park, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Family Business (DVD)

Sidney Lumet has directed some of the best actor (Fonda, Connery, Pacino. Holden, Widmark) and the worst (Vin Diesel). However this cute drama/comedy caper is cute at best and not worth his talents. If not for the three leads (Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick) who are involved, this film would be forgetable.

Connery plays Jesse, the elder stateman of the McMullin clan who is part irish/part scot. Jesse is also a career criminal who has been out and in of jails. His son Vito (Hoffman) (part scot irish and Italian)was raised in the life of burglary and is trying to go straight with his meat packing business. Vito's son adam (Broderick) (who is part scot/irish/italian and Jewish on his mother's side) was gifted with a silver spoon in his mouth. Adam rather join the family business and be a thief like his Grandfather Jesse. The family dynamic works well with these three leads together, it breaks apart with they do not play scenes like a trio

None of the actors are the weakest link in this film, it lays in the script itself. Lumet uses too many two long shots and two shots to make sure at least two of the trio is always together.

The talent is on the DVD. One could wish one of these films giants or Lumet would have done an audio commentary, but none have come to pass.

So steal this DVD for your collection

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CONNERY,HOFFMAN, BRODERICK...OH MY!!!, May 7, 2004

By 

Gregory Saffady (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Business (DVD)

And Sidney Lumet behind the camera? This had all the earmarks of greatness but FAMILY BUSINESS is what its principal characters are: under achievers. But what great fun! This is Connery chewing scenery ( dinner at Vito's, the prison van, the Pee Wee Grogan story). Vincent Patrick, who wrote the screenplay from his own novel, knows NYC street people and the landscape is genuine. There's worse things to waste 100 minutes on than this.