tedg Suppose you are a fairly powerful man in TeeVee, and have some standing in the movie world. Suppose also that you have been a poor father to a son that is fairly incompetent at life. He wants to become a filmmaker, and you have big ideas for him that work against his abilities. You eventually settle for a small film with an extremely simple message.So what is the film about? A fairly powerful man in the entertainment (read: movie) business, who has been a poor father to a son that is fairly incompetent at life. The "films" in this story are bar mitzvah parties, and the one we are competing with is (no fooling) "Titanic." You'll insert yourself as the apologetic grandfather, newly full of wisdom about the meaning of life (because of experience on an Indian reservation). The story? Well it will be about making small but honest films instead of huge, competitive ones with no soul.Actually, I find this nesting-folding interesting as all getout. Its too bad that this movie doesn't even have a single element that is done well. So where the kid on screen has a success to beaming parents and grandparents, the kid who directed this must have come out damaged. Sometimes, help isn't help I think.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

mschuman-3 I cried, I laughed, I called people to tell them to see it. This is the most real portrayal of what it means to be a member of a family that I have ever seen. It is about growing up. It is about letting go of disappointment (including childhoods that didn't meet our expectations). It was called a shallow sitcom. Whoever said that must have had a sitcom life. I watched it on demand but I am going to buy it today. For Jewish people, it will really hit home (like old family videos), but for anyone else, it is all families. There is not a lost moment. Not a shallow minute. If it were a sitcom, I would record every episode. It makes me doubt other critiques. Give this movie a chance. It is better than therapy!

the_mad_mckenna This is actually a nice film, and probably a very good family film that you can let teens see and they won't be bored/embarrassed (like "cheaper by the dozen"). While it doesn't have any hilarious moments, there are plenty of funny lines, plus the sight of what i think are Gary Marshall's actual buttocks (heaven help us all). The casting is very good, and while the film might have been a bit shirt, it did a good job of fleshing out the characters. Adam Goldberg's cameo might be the highlight of the film, so funny you'd think it's the return of the "Hebrew Hammer". I don't think you can go wrong with this one if you're sitting down with family and friends, even more so if they're Jewish!

wrlang Keeping up with the Steins is about a young Jewish boy named Fiedler in the days leading up to his bar mitzvah who learns what becoming a Jewish young adult is all about. Add to that the long lost grandfather coming back into town and the tension that causes between his father and his grandmother and you have some good comedic kindling. An additional plot point is the initial scenes as everyone is taking part in the Steins bar mitzvah on a cruise ship – very expensive and intricate planning. Will the Fiedler's keep up with the Steins in spending for the occasion? The acting was good and everything was timed perfectly for the delivery of some good humor, especially if you speak pig Latin.