Who's in It: Ed Harris, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel
The Basics: Ed Harris is a writer very, very much like J.D. Salinger who has turned reclusive (like Salinger) and alcoholic (probably unlike Salinger). His estranged daughter (Deschanel) tries to get him to publish his old letters. And then, because it's an indie film, the quirky people show up. You must love them!
What's the Deal? Movies about oddball, deadpan bohemians are adorable and all, but they're about as realistic as movies about anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetles that squirt oil into the faces of the bad guys. This one has the very cool Deschanel being charismatic, Harris being irascible and Ferrell moving back into that borderline mentally retarded routine he's very comfortable with. They're a makeshift family of broken people behaving weirdly. You must love them!
Two Movies Walk Into a Room, but Only One Walks Out: And the winner of the big, estranged-family indie movie fight is … The Squid and the Whale. But this one tries hard. You must love them!
Not Terrible Parts: Ferrell sings an Eagles song. Deschanel sings "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." You must love them!
Sad-Girl Shorthand: Slamming her hands against walls and doors, much like Julianne Moore in Freedomland. Deschanel's character is a mess, and she likes to slam her own hands in drawers. You must — oh, forget it.