While Jason Bateman has been keeping plenty busy in front of the camera (he can be heard in Zootopia right now), he's recently begun spreading his wings as a director. A couple of years ago he made his debut with the vulgar comedy Bad Words, which turned out to be pretty successful from a critical standpoint. And now he's back behind the camera for The Family Fang, and the first trailer for it is here.
Bateman pulls double-duty, directing and starring in the film alongside Nicole Kidman as adult siblings forced to return home to their dysfunctional parents. David Lindsay-Abaire, who wrote Rabbit Hole for Kidman back in 2010, provides the screenplay while Christopher Walken, Maryann Plunkett, Kathryn Hahn, Jason Butler Harner, and Marin Ireland co-star. Here's the official synopsis:
Adult siblings Baxter (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Nicole Kidman), scarred from an unconventional upbringing, return to their family home after an unlikely accident. When their parents (Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett) — performance artists famous for elaborate public hoaxes — suddenly go missing under troubling circumstances, Baxter and Annie investigate. Unsure whether it’s foul play or just another elaborate ruse, nothing can prepare them for what they discover.
The film played the festival circuit last year and received some strong reviews, so keep an eye out for this one. The Family Fang gets a limited release on April 29th, followed by a wider run on May 6th.
