The Royal Tenenbaums is that rare movie gem that leaves viewers thinking, "I shouldn't be laughing at this," in between their cackles and grins.

Wes Anderson is the young and brilliant man in the director's chair. The Royal Tenenbaums towers over his last film, the superb Rushmore, leaving no doubt that more masterpieces are yet to come.

The greatest part of the film isn't the story — it's the characters.

Gene Hackman is exceptional as Royal Tenenbaum, the estranged father of three child geniuses who are now grown.

Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Luke Wilson are extraordinary as the three now adult Tenenbaums.

Anjelica Huston shines as their mother, and Owen Wilson (who also co-wrote the screenplay) playing their childhood friend Eli Cash, is hilarious, as always. It is just impossible to name one performance as a standout, as all in the cast are absolutely radiant and deserve praise and honors.

The characters are so out there, yet still believable and even familiar at times.

They showed some traits that are likewise found in my friends and myself, which made me feel all the more guilty for laughing at their misfortunes.

I suppose, however, that that's what this movie tries to do.

It tries to get us to take life less seriously and sit back and laugh at ourselves, even when everything is going wrong.

Call it an utterly dark comedy or a hilarious drama, it doesn't even matter: The Royal Tenenbaums is an all-out masterpiece.

— Reviewed by Debra Bell