In turn each cancel prompting him to embark on a cross-country trip to pay them each a surprise visit. His journey reveals a truth long kept hidden by his wife – none of his kids are as successful or happy as he’s been led to believe.
Mercifully the film avoids mawkish sentiment but the ‘big reveal’ is obvious from the outset and the failings in each offspring’s life are almost immediately apparent and the attempts of at least two to hide their real lives relies on an unbelievable amount of generosity on the part of others, including a husband capable of walking out on his wife and child but willing to drop everything to play at happy families for Frank’s benefit.
If you can suspend your disbelief there are some great performances from Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell as Frank’s offspring and some great chemistry between Barrymore and De Niro.
Opens 26th February 2010.