Who's in It: Jeremy Piven, Jami Gertz, Garry Marshall, Daryl Hannah, Daryl Sabara, Cheryl Hines, Larry Miller
The Basics: A confused, shy kid (Spy Kids star Sabara) suffers through the planning of an extravagant bar mitzvah by his rich Hollywood agent dad (Piven). The kid complies, all so he can plot to reunite his father and estranged hippie grandfather (Marshall). Lukewarm comedy turns to sledgehammer heart-warmth at the end. You've been warned.
What's the Deal? I've seen enough episodes of the evil MTV show My Super Sweet 16 to know that there's nothing too crazy for spoiled rich kids to get for their birthdays. So all the jokes about "Don't seat Catherine Zeta-Jones next to the dugout at this kid's party, the one we're renting Dodger Stadium for," have kind of been done already. In real life.
What's Good About This: Entourage star Piven is funny and tightly coiled as the angry agent dad. Too bad the script paints his pain as unreasonable. His character's father abandoned him as a child. So he's angry. The movie literally tells him to get over it. And because it's a dumb movie, he does. Oh, you're upset that I just spoiled the ending for you? Did you think it was going to be a bitter, sad final act?
How Much Does It Reek of Hollywood Nepotism? Fairly strongly. Director Scott Marshall is the son of Garry. And so, son is well on his way to being the same kind of cheap-joke hack as father. Meanwhile, I know at least two talented filmmakers who struggle to get their projects made. No justice, no peace, Marshall family!
Number of Cameos by Musicians: Two. Neil Diamond and DJ Quik. And you're thinking, "Awesome! They do a song together!" But they don't. Another way the movie fails.