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While intending to bridge the gap between
boyhood and manhood, bar mitzvahs can often more closely
resemble extravagant sweet-sixteen parties than actual
religious ceremonies. It is this trend that forms the basis
of KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS, a family comedy about what
happens when a Hollywood agent uses his son's bar mitzvah as
a vehicle for outspending his nemesis. Jeremy Piven
perfectly inhabits the role of Adam Fiedler, a character
strikingly similar to that of his star turn as Ari Gold on
the HBO series ENTOURAGE. Energetic and fast-talking, Adam
approaches his son Benjamin's bar mitzvah in the same way he
deals with business, stopping at nothing to make his son's
party more excessive than anything thrown by the
competition. But will this conspicuous spending achieve
anything, aside from alienating Adam's son (SPY KIDS' Daryl
Sabara) and wife (Jami Gertz), and making Adam look like a
fool? Through Benjamin's voiceovers, we learn that he is not
only against such an elaborate affair, but is terrified of
having to master Hebrew in time for the ceremony. While Adam
craves the limelight associated with such an event, Benjamin
would rather not be the center of attention. Wise beyond his
years, Benjamin decides to use the event as a means to
reunite his father with his estranged grandfather, Irwin
(Garry Marshall).
KEEPING
UP WITH THE STEINS explores ideas of growth, with the film's
13-year-old protagonist Benjamin displaying more maturity
than most of the adults in the film. Directed by Scott
Marshall, the film, while sometimes predictable, benefits
from a star-studded cast (including Doris Roberts, Cheryl
Hines, and Daryl Hannah) and a well-written script. A
coming-of-age story filled with Jewish humor, the film
should appeal to viewers of all ages.
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