Paul Reiser

The Thing About My Folks Paul Reiser

Paul Reiser wrote and stars in THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS, although he graciously handed over the lead role to veteran screen star Peter Falk. Directed by Raymond De Felitta (CAFE SOCIETY), the film is ostensibly a road movie that allows Reiser to dig beneath the surface of a unique father-son relationship. Reiser plays Ben Kleinman, while Falk plays his dad, Sam. Together, they set off on a road trip after Ben learns his mom is leaving Sam, and has sketched out the reasons why in a hastily written letter. Ben decides a road trip is the best way to distract his father as various relatives unite to look for his missing mother, and the journey affords the two men the opportunity to bond in ways they have never previously managed. As Sam tells Ben stories about his 50 year relationship with his errant wife, De Felitta utilizes flashbacks to flesh out the history of their relationship, while Falk pours plenty of emotion into his re-telling of the family's history. The heavier segments of Sam's recollections are peppered with jokes to ease the tone of the film, adding a nice counterpoint to the portrayal of the Kleinman's as a highly dysfunctional unit. It's Falk who really shines throughout; easily cementing his reputation as one of the great, if somewhat unheralded American actors of his generation, THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS is worth seeing for him alone. Reiser's script really allows the weathered actor a chance to shine, providing another welcome performance to add to Falk’s impressive canon of films.