| This Is Where I Leave You | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Shawn Levy |
| Screenplay by | Jonathan Tropper |
| Based on | This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Terry Stacey |
| Edited by | Dean Zimmerman |
| Music by | Michael Giacchino |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 103 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $19.8 million[2] |
| Box office | $41.3 million[2] |
This Is Where I Leave You is a 2014 Americancomedy drama film directed byShawn Levy, and starringJason Bateman,Tina Fey,Adam Driver,Rose Byrne,Corey Stoll,Kathryn Hahn,Connie Britton,Timothy Olyphant,Dax Shepard andJane Fonda. It is based on the 2009 novel of the same title byJonathan Tropper, who also wrote the film's screenplay.[3]This Is Where I Leave You tells the story of four grown siblings who are forced to return to their childhood home after their father's death and live under the same roof forseven days, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes, and might-have-beens. The film was released on September 19, 2014, and grossed $41.3 million against a $19.8 million production budget.[4][5]
New York radio producer Judd Altman discovers his wife Quinn has been having an affair with his boss,shock jock Wade Beaufort, while bringing her a birthday cake he walks in on the two of them having sex. As he prepares to divorce her, Judd learns that his father, Mort, has died and returns toupstate New York for the funeral, reuniting with his family. Judd's sister Wendy and her children are being neglected by her workaholic husband Barry. Judd's older brother Paul is married to Judd's high school girlfriend Annie, and the two are struggling to conceive. The youngest sibling, Phillip, introduces them to his older therapist-turned-girlfriend Tracy. Their mother, Hilary, explains that Mort wanted them all tosit shiva, forcing the family together for the next seven days.
Staying in his childhood basement, Judd lies to everyone but Wendy about Quinn's absence, but admits the truth to his old classmate Penny Moore. He reconnects with Wendy's ex-boyfriend, Horry Callen, who suffered a brain injury years earlier and lives with his mother, Linda, Hilary's neighbor and closest friend. An argument about Phillip joining Paul in running their father's sporting goods business devolves into a fistfight. Phillip flirts with an ex-girlfriend in front of Tracy, and Wendy drunkenly badgers Judd into blurting out the truth about his wife's affair.
Quinn arrives to inform Judd that she is pregnant, and that the child must be his, as Wade is infertile. He visits and spends the night with Penny. Wendy reaches out to Horry, experiencing guilt over the car crash that led to his injury and the end of their relationship. After Phillip reveals Quinn's pregnancy to the family, Hilary brings them totemple, presided over by their classmate Rabbi Charles "Boner" Grodner. The brothers sneak away to smoke marijuana found in their father's suit jacket. Desperate to have a baby, Annie tries to seduce Judd, and Wendy later confides in him that she is still in love with Horry.
Judd's time with Penny is interrupted by a call from Quinn, who fears she is having a miscarriage. He races to the hospital, where Quinn and their baby are fine, but Wade appears, leading to a confrontation in the waiting room. Wendy arrives and punches Wade, while Judd convinces a group of young men to flip Wade'sJaguar E-Type. Wade admits that he cannot be there for Quinn, and Judd assures her that they will raise their child together, even though their marriage is over.
After an honest conversation with Judd, Tracy decides to break up with Phillip. Judd attempts to explain himself to Penny, who refuses to listen. While the house is full of mourners, Judd comforts an apologetic Annie, but Paul assumes he is hitting on her and chases him outside, just as Tracy leaves Phillip. As the brothers fight, Hilary shocks everyone into silence by kissing Linda. They reveal that they fell in love while caring for Mort, who gave them his blessing. Hilary admits that the shiva was her idea, allowing her tocome out to her children while forcing them to reconnect.
When the power goes out in the basement, Judd attempts to fix the fuse box and is shocked unconscious. He relives a childhood memory of falling off his bicycle and being comforted by his father, and wakes up in his mother's arms. Inspired by Hilary and Linda, Judd apologizes to Penny, and they agree to reconnect after he has figured things out for himself, sharing a kiss. Wendy departs with her children, tearing up as she waves goodbye to Horry, while the brothers reconcile and Paul offers Phillip a job. Judd slips away, stealing Phillip's Porsche and driving to Maine, where he had always dreamed of going.
This is Where I Leave You beganprincipal photography on May 13, 2013, inNew York City.[6] The home is located inMunsey Park on Long Island. The skating rink was inThe Bellmores, New York. The synagogue interior and exterior scenes were actually shot atCongregation Kneses Tifereth Israel inPort Chester, New York.[7][8] Approximately 40 members of the congregation played extras in the scenes.[9]
On October 9, 2013,Michael Giacchino was hired to score the film.[10] On August 25, 2014, it was announced thatWaterTower Music would release a soundtrack album for the film on September 16, 2014.[11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fall at Your Feet" (Performed bySaint Raymond) | 4:03 |
| 2. | "Blue Mind" (Performed byAlexi Murdoch) | 5:43 |
| 3. | "Never Tear Us Apart" (Performed byINXS) | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Time After Time" (Performed byCyndi Lauper) | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Reign of Love" (Performed byColdplay) | 2:54 |
| 6. | "The Ghost in You" (Performed byThe Psychedelic Furs) | 4:17 |
| 7. | "Through the Dark" (Performed by Alexi Murdoch) | 5:30 |
| 8. | "Are You Ready (On Your Own)" (Performed byDistant Cousins) | 3:27 |
On May 15, 2014Entertainment Weekly revealed a still from the film featuring the whole cast. On May 28, 2014, the first trailer was released.[12]
This Is Where I Leave You grossed $34.3 million in North America and $6.7 million in other territories for a total gross of $41 million, against its budget of about $20 million.[13]
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $11.6 million, finishing 3rd at the box office behind fellow new releasesThe Maze Runner ($32.5 million) andA Walk Among the Tombstones ($12.8 million).
OnRotten Tomatoes,This Is Where I Leave You holds a rating of 44%, based on 167 reviews, with an average rating of 5.47/10. The site's consensus reads, "This Is Where I Leave You has its moments, but given the amount of talent assembled onscreen, the rather pedestrian results can't help but feel like a letdown."[14] OnMetacritic, the film has a score of 44 out of 100, based on 39 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[15] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[16]
The film was released onDVD andBlu-ray on December 16, 2014, byWarner Home Video.