Margot At The Wedding (2007)

Margot At The Wedding is Baumbach's second consecutive film about a distraught family who can't resist breaking apart into dysfunctional pieces. Though Margot's tone is different from The Squid and The Whale's, there are the repetitive themes of semi-loser male with halfway decent female, and "I think it's time for a divorce."

Margot (Nicole Kidman) and her son Claude (Zane Pais) journey from their Manhattan life to a land known as Long Island for Pauline's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding. From the get-go, Margot is clearly less than thrilled. Her and Pauline haven't spoken in sometime plus Margot disapproves of Pauline's and Malcolm's decision to marry after only knowing each other for a year. We wonder why Margot has decided to go, as does Claude.

Margot's intentions become clearer when it is revealed that Margot's illicit lover and current writing partner, Dick Koosman (Claran Hinds), lives a mile away from Pauline. Margot's life is in an unstable period. She can't decide between Dick or her devoted husband, Jim. She drinks a bit more than moderately and takes pills whenever she can get her hands on them. She is also superbly critical, and utterly unlikeable. Baumbach seems to have a special gift for creating repulsive personalites that still intrigue us. Kidman's performance is flawless, her familiar emotional chill was to her advantage in Margot.

Malcolm (Jack Black) is Pauline's almost husband. He's a music maestro, "letter writer," and professional slacker. His lack of motivation deems him pretty undesirable. Yet Pauline, a lax lady herself, appreciates his humor and knowledge of innane music trivia. Malcolm seems pretty content as does Ingrid (Flora Cross,) Pauline's cheerful daughter. Despite Pauline's apparent complacency, we come to learn that she too isn't as transparent as we initially thought.

Margot, however, refuses to accept Pauline's decision and warm up to Malcolm whom she thinks of as a rogue. She can't accept Pauline's differences. Her taste for self-help books, or use of incense. Pauline (rightfully) sees Margot's behavior as borderline psychotic and beyond hurtful. Pauline also resents Margot's family references in public writing. Something Baumbach apparently dealt with after the release of The Squid and The Whale

Though Margot At The Wedding is interesting and entertaining at times, it is ultimately a film about two sisters bickering. Margot is never in any real danger of losing her husband, and it seems nobody would mind if Pauline lost hers anyway. This film is not Baumbach's best, but definitely worth a viewing. Unfortunately, Jack Black's performance becomes less-than bearable as the film inches forward; hence, the screeching halt of an ending is thoroughly appreciated.