The Tribes of Palos Verdes

When you find yourself not the favorite on a parent and the tool of another all the while losing touch with your twin brother, what else can you do while also dealing with the life of a teenager in a new pretentious town?

This movie is has some good points. At first it seem this might be some OC style affluent enclave drama by the sea but it's a bit more serious. A surgeon father brings his family to the exclusive Palos Verdes CA but soon after leaves his wife for his realtor. Jennifer Gardner acts well as the wife who loses it totally and depends too much on her teenage kids. She doesn't have that out of place perkiness that she usually has. Alicia Silverstone plays the other woman. There is a special bond between the brother and sister who are twins. She is a loner surfer type. He is a more easy going guy who unfortunately turns to drugs. This movie turned out to be quite unsettling maybe a bit too many things go wrong and the adults are just so hopeless with a totally selfish dad and a basket case mom.

This movie came up on a list of best surf movies. It is not about surfing! This movie is about a dysfunctional family going through a divorce. It's very sad. It's well written and interesting. Just be prepared that this is not an upbeat film about waves and surfers.

Incredibly powerful and moving film. I don't usually get emotional watching movies but a day later and i still feel quite sad thinking about the ending. Cody fern stole the film for me and provided an incredible performance . I had a genuine dislike for Jennifer Garner in the movie and she also played the role extremely well . Very very sad and makes you think about the consequences of divorce and parents relying on their children for emotional support , ignoring their problems .

I normally don't watch movies. Actually I rarely ever watch movies. But it was on cable and I didn't feel like being bothered with the other hyped up marketed acts last night so I sat through this. And the summary of the movie was not accurate. The ratings are a joke here. First, this is one of the better screenwriting. Two, Jennifer Garner CAN act. Three, direction was excellent. This isn't a feel good movie. This movie is true to life. If not Palos Verdes, then anywhere in Southern California. Life is not a feel good movie, and unfortunately it's really this ugly for anyone who is the unwilling trapped victim of a narcissist. In this case, it's the all too common children of divorce. The reason why I don't like the summary "coming of age" is because it really isn't. How do they come of age? These kids didn't get any sort of enlightenment or accomplishment. They're the protagonists that you will empathize with. IF this movie had a hero, it would be a true blue canine family member. But these kids were not so lucky. Many people can relate to this family regardless of who and what you are- and what your circumstances are. And it's actually a good idea to watch something like this to put it in perspective. I found the drama a little intense. I wish there was more better energy and sense of humor- but unfortunately, It's true to life.