Product Details

• Actors: Paul Reiser, Peter Falk, Olympia Dukakis, Elizabeth Perkins, Mackenzie Connolly
• Directors: Raymond De Felitta
• Writers: Paul Reiser
• Producers: Paul Reiser, Jamie H. Zelermyer, Jeffrey Silver, Robert F. Newmyer, Steve Gaub
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• DVD Release Date: February 14, 2006
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CEV3P0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,578 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Thing About My Folks" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The Thing About My Folks is a heart warming tale of family bonds and enduring love. After 47 years of marriage Ben's (Reiser) mother unexpectedly leaves her husband. With no where else to turn Ben's father Sam (Falk) is forced to spend time and get to know his son. Hysterical antics ensue as Ben and Sam strengthen their father/son relationship while Ben helps his father rekindle the romance with his mother.Running Time: 96 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 794043101502 Manufacturer No: N10150

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Apples and Oranges, January 21, 2007

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Thing About My Folks (DVD)

Paul Reiser steps away from the standup comedy spotlight to write a warmly humorous and gently tender story about family - what we see and what we don't see, what we expect and what surprises us. THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS doesn't set any new standards for film, but it is a fine little story well told that reminds us about the significant bonds that family represents.

Sam Kleinman (Peter Falk) has been a workaholic, at times pushing his wife Muriel (Olympia Dukakis), his daughters (Mackenzie Connolly and Lydia Jordan), and his son Ben (Paul Reiser) into the background. One day Muriel leaves a note that after years of marriage she is leaving! Her daughters, along with Ben's wife Rachel (Elizabeth Perkins) immediately begin the search for her whereabouts, leaving the confused and hurt and disgruntle Sam to sort things out on a road trip with son Ben. The road trip becomes a time for the two men to learn who each other is and what they each mean to their status as father and son and as family members. Sam relaxes for the first time in his life and introduces the now workaholic Ben to the pleasures and fun of living. The trip comes to an end with a phone call about the whereabouts of Muriel and why she left and the regrouping of the wiser family draws the story's warm ending. All is not what it seemed: it's better and, well, different.

Falk and Reiser play off each other like the pros they are, but in many ways the film belongs to the brief moments when Olympia Dukakis is on screen, reminding us that she is one of our strongest matriarchs on film.
Well worth viewing. Grady Harp, January 07

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Father And Son Bonding--A Slight And Unassuming Little Film For Those Who Like that Sort Of Thing, November 13, 2006

By 

K. Harris "Film aficionado" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Thing About My Folks (DVD)

"The Thing About My Folks" is a pleasant, if not at all surprising, little diversion. In a bit of male wish fulfillment, a man and his father find themselves on an unlikely roadtrip--and thus have the time to learn about one another and bond in ways previously foreign to them both. This seriocomic adventure stars Paul Reiser and Peter Falk as the duo, and the piece was obviously put together as an ode to familial love. What little boy doesn't yearn to spend more time with his dad? Apparently, even into adulthood, that's not something you ever get over.

After a fairly contrived and perfunctory beginning, our guys get on the road. Their escapades are pleasingly familiar which means that we're treated to a lot of cliche'd moments. As you might expect--we get ballgames, camping, fishing, drinking, smoking, carousing with women, and any other father/son interaction you might hope for. It's all very tame, though, but there is a warm humor to be had throughout. Naturally, they grow closer and there are some sweet (and completely expected) moments.

There is nothing particularly wrong with "The Thing About My Folks"--it's just so safe and unassuming. I suspect many will be attracted to it's comfortable feeling and experience a tugging sensation on their heartstrings. It has the feel of a good Cable TV movie, and never strives to be anything other than pleasant. In that it succeeds, it's pleasant. It is good to see Falk back in a leading role, and he makes the most of it. It's a very likable performance.

People who like the "warm and fuzzies" should like this film--but if it sounds like it's not your type of film, it probably isn't. KGHarris, 11/06.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE REAL DEAL, May 29, 2006

By 

D. Heinrich "The Big Mama" (West Nyack, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Thing About My Folks (DVD)

I just viewed this movie last night with my husband and we thought it was THE BEST! I feel it deals with REAL families and emotions, right down to the "farts". I didn't realize Paul Reiser was such a talented writer. He turned out a movie that didn't once make me feel that it was contrived or stilted. It was like being with the family---a family that cares and shows anger and fear and frustration and LOVE. And it shows us that we CAN grow and change AND still love and support each other.
It was one of the best 98 minutes we've had together right up to and including the tears we shared at the end. Right on, Paul Reiser! Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, this is THE REAL DEAL!!