This is Where I Leave You 2014: Film Adaptation of Tropper’s 2009 Bestselling Novel Receives Mixed Reviews, Movie Plot, Cast, and Other News

By Kara Michelle Sep 25, 2014 07:24 AM EDT

This is Where I Leave You 2014: Film Adaptation of Tropper's 2009 Bestselling Novel Receives Mixed Reviews, Movie Plot, Cast, and Other News

Directed by Shawn Levy, the movie This is Where I Leave You started showing on September 19. The film is written by Jonathan Tropper, as the movie is also based on the writer's best-selling novel in 2009. Not unusual in many novel-to-film movies, "This is Where I Leave You" received a mix of negative and positive reviews.

The comedy-drama revolves around a family of four siblings who, after the death of their father, come to live together again for one week. The movie plot is described as, "When their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens."

One review points out that the film "doesn't live up to many of its family dramedy movie predecessors or the book it was based upon. Perhaps it's the abundance of television stars, or the comfortable suburban setting, but [the movie] feels more like a sitcom than a movie, built up with easy laughs and schmaltz rather than real moments", commending the chemistry of the cast of the four siblings, but found the movie "too packed" with cast and stories that should have been explored further.

In contrast, the movie received positive reviews from well-known sources. For one, L.A. Times praised the movie stating, "I can't think of a family I'd rather sit Shiva with than the Altmans of "This Is Where I Leave You." They bury their father, Mort, pun no doubt intended, with the right mix of tears and unearthed resentments, and they take the blows life hands them seriously enough but in stride. As if they are nothing special. This is exactly the charm of Jonathan Tropper's novel on which the comedy/drama is based".

As for the movie cast, Jason Bateman plays the role of Judd Altman, the main character and one of the four siblings. Tina Fey plays Wendy Altman, another sibling, and a mother of two kids. Adam Driver plays the youngest sibling named Philip Altman, who is also the playboy of the four. Corey Stoll is the other sibling, Paul Altman, the most responsible one out of the four.

This is Where I Leave You premiered September 19, 2014.