Fox Searchlight Pictures presents an R rated, 91 minute dramatic comedy directed by Wes Anderson and starring Owen Wilson (Francis Whitman), Adrien Brody (Peter Whitman), Jason Schwartzman (Jack Whitman), Amara Karan (Rita), Wallace Wolodarsky (Brendan), Waris Ahluwalia (Chief Steward), Irfan Khan (Boy's Father), Barbet Schroeder (Mechanic), Camilla Rutherford (Alice), Bill Murray ( The Businessman), Anjelica Huston (Patricia), with a cameo by Natalie Portman.
Three brothers, Francis, the bossy one, Peter, the barrower, and Jack, the barefooted writer, meet one year after their fathers death on a spiritual journey through India in order to bond and find themselves. Francis, who had just drove his motorcycle accidentally into a hillside is wrapped with gauze around his head and arm but still manages to make his way on to an AC first class sleeper car train ride through India with his brothers.
They all seem to have their own separate stories as most of us do. Francis has an associate traveling with him. Peter is about to become a parent with Alice. Jack, although seems to be dealing with his two brothers personalities misses his ex-girlfriend while in the mean time finds a fling, Rita, on the train.
The director takes you on their personal, family and just an overall bizarre journey in search of meaning and in the long run, their mother, who has become a nun in the foothills of the Himalayas. Although the cinematography had its moments, the story was quite off the wall and at times just a bit painful to watch, albeit this seems to be this directors forte.
Throughout the film, the extras albeit many of them, some that spoke in Indian, some in English and some not at all were fitting to the story but lacked acting skills and the ability to look away from the cameras, making the production seem a bit amateur at times. Thank goodness for the three main characters because without their acting abilities this movie would have had more people walk out of it than I had noticed. Remember Ishtar? Well move over because this film found it's distant relative. Maybe foreign desert scenes with lost American characters is just not for everyone! I am a fan of Brody and found him to be endearing in this role for what he was presented with as a part. Wilson, well thankfully this was not his last film to be remembered since it might have explained more. Murray and Portman, well it explains why they only had cameos. As for Huston, a small role goes along way or in this case maybe not!
Do the brothers agree with everything throughout their journey? Of course not! Just because their brothers doesn't mean life will be serene. They have their obstacles, a poisonous snake, a man eating tiger and mace to name a few but they do seem to understand the meaning that blood is thinker than water. Except for maybe their mother who has always been disappearing in and out of their lives and does so once again after their brief and uneventful encounter.
Not only are they dealing with the death of their own father, life, a distant mother but also along the way the death of a young Indian boy. Unlike their mother who did not attend their own fathers funeral, the three brothers who tried to save the boys life do attend his traditional funeral, which does help to add a sense of depth to this otherwise lost story line. Ending pretty much where they started but this time luggage free, the three brothers with the help of their peacock feathers find their path through a spicy smelling countryside along with some sweet lime and a dot.
I try to find the good in everything myself but I can't imagine this film will survive the competition of the big screen box office. For those that might be looking for a journey straight from the bong to the big screen, go for it. Even the score albeit enjoyable at times left a bit of mystery to the hairs in my inner ears! If that makes any sense than you may like this film if not than you know what I'm talking about and may want to pass on this excursion into the hills of India on this strange and unimaginable "Darjeeling Limited".
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.