Watch Stuart Saves His Family
- PG-13
- 1995
- 1 hr 39 min
-
5.3 (2,958)
Stuart Saves His Family is a 1995 comedy-drama film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Al Franken. Based on Franken's character Stuart Smalley from Saturday Night Live, the film follows Stuart as he tries to help his dysfunctional family while struggling with his own codependency issues. The movie opens with a typical day in the life of Stuart Smalley, a self-help guru on a local public access TV station. However, when Stuart's troubled younger brother Don (Vincent D'Onofrio) is released from a mental institution and comes to live with his family, Stuart's façade of self-confidence begins to crumble. Don's erratic behavior and addiction struggles bring up painful memories for Stuart, who doesn't want to face his own issues.
Stuart's mother (Shirley Knight) is overbearing and critical, his father (Harris Yulin) is distant and uncommunicative, and his sister Jodie (Lesley Boone) is struggling with her own body image issues. Stuart tries to fix everything for everyone, but at the same time, he's paralyzed by his own fears of inadequacy.
Stuart's troubles come to a head when his show is canceled by the station, and he is forced to confront his own codependency head-on. He enlists the help of a tough-love therapist (Laura San Giacomo) who challenges him to take responsibility for his own feelings and actions.
As Stuart begins to heal himself, he starts to see his family in a new light. He realizes that his mother, father, and sister are all struggling with their own issues and trying to do the best they can. With the help of his therapist and his own newfound self-confidence, Stuart sets out to help his family heal and move forward together.
Stuart Saves His Family is a heartfelt and poignant film about the power of self-awareness and the importance of family. Al Franken shines in the lead role, delivering a strong and nuanced performance that is both funny and sensitive. The supporting cast is equally fantastic, with standout performances from Vincent D'Onofrio as the troubled Don and Laura San Giacomo as the tough-love therapist.
Director Harold Ramis balances the film's comedic and dramatic elements with skill, creating a movie that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The film's message of self-acceptance and the power of love to heal is universal and will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll.
Overall, Stuart Saves His Family is a must-see film that will make you laugh, cry, and think. It's a testament to the power of great storytelling and solid performances, and it remains one of the best movies of its kind over two decades later.
Stuart Saves His Family is a 1995 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 54.