The Descendants | Eastern North Carolina Now

   The infidelity of the now comatose wife served as merely a tool to show the maligned husband, Matt, just how important it is to draw your family in close whenever possible. The second adulterous party, Brian Speer, played by Mathew Lillard, and his suffering spouse, Julie Speer, played by Judy Greer, more than held up their end of the acting bargain of never being the production's weak-link. In fact, as sorry as this statement may seem, they both added a good deal to the story's black humor that was such a natural out-crop of this tough tale of dysfunctional family woe.

   Sadly and quite naturally in life, and then in death, this is often the way it often turns out. In this tale, one is led to consider: I bet Matt King will not let his family fall apart. Then again, that's just one man's opinion. What will be yours if you see this film?

   Rated R. Released in theaters December 9, 2011.