KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Holly · 07-17-2006, 08:16 AM

A sweet, funny comedy about the lengths an LA family takes to have the best of all bar mitzvahs. Dad (Jeremy Piven) is all set to outdo Arnie Stein and his outrageously expensive party when in drives Grandpa Irwin (Garry Marshall) and his live-in-trailer girlfriend, played by Daryl Hannah. The fun comes with some information about what a bar mitzvah represents. With Richard Benjamin as the opportunistic rabbi and “Spy Kid’s” Daryl Sabara as young Benjamin.

Is “Keeping Up With the Steins” funny? You bet. And you don’t have to be Jewish to savor what you see. But if you are Jewish, you have to see this.

Way better than “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” this comedy makes us laugh as it throws out a few crucial bits of information for those unacquainted with Jewish traditions-to wit, the bar mitzvah.

What a show Hollywood agent Arnie Stein (Larry Miller) puts on for his son. Half a million bucks for dancing girls, mermaids, ice sculptures on a luxury liner. What a challenge for fellow agent Adam Fiedler (Jeremy Piven), who now has to do Stein one better. In comes the planner, and his mother (Doris Roberts), and how about a bash in Dodger Stadium?

What an idea, what a day it will be for young Benjamin, played by Daryl Sabara, the kid you might recognize from “Spy Kids.” The problem is that Benjamin is not excited; he can hardly intone or memorize his Hebrew or please the egotistical rabbi played with serene pretension by Richard Benjamin.

The fun begins when, against his father’s wishes, Benjamin invites his estranged Grandfather Irwin to come two weeks earlier. Played by Garry Marshall, uncle of director Scott Marshall, he’s living on a Navajo reservation with his young, new-age girlfriend, played by Daryl Hannah. Picture the scene when the two arrive in a rundown trailer. And Grandma, the woman he left long ago?

To detail all the fun is to lessen yours, but along the way, Irwin proves to be just what Benjamin needs to instill confidence and pop the balloon of foolish extravagance that goes with keeping pace with the Steins. The bonus is that along with the humor, we learn just what a Bar Mitzvah represents in the life of a boy, as well as in the Jewish tradition. No preaching or heavy-handed stuff. It’s sweet, funny, and intelligent all at once. And it is smart.

I almost forgot. The final ceremony serves up a surprise entertainer singing a familiar song.

07-17-2006, 08:16 AM	#1
Holly I LOVE SUNSETS :) Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: Albany NY Posts: 5,748	KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS A sweet, funny comedy about the lengths an LA family takes to have the best of all bar mitzvahs. Dad (Jeremy Piven) is all set to outdo Arnie Stein and his outrageously expensive party when in drives Grandpa Irwin (Garry Marshall) and his live-in-trailer girlfriend, played by Daryl Hannah. The fun comes with some information about what a bar mitzvah represents. With Richard Benjamin as the opportunistic rabbi and “Spy Kid’s” Daryl Sabara as young Benjamin. Is “Keeping Up With the Steins” funny? You bet. And you don’t have to be Jewish to savor what you see. But if you are Jewish, you have to see this. Way better than “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” this comedy makes us laugh as it throws out a few crucial bits of information for those unacquainted with Jewish traditions-to wit, the bar mitzvah. What a show Hollywood agent Arnie Stein (Larry Miller) puts on for his son. Half a million bucks for dancing girls, mermaids, ice sculptures on a luxury liner. What a challenge for fellow agent Adam Fiedler (Jeremy Piven), who now has to do Stein one better. In comes the planner, and his mother (Doris Roberts), and how about a bash in Dodger Stadium? What an idea, what a day it will be for young Benjamin, played by Daryl Sabara, the kid you might recognize from “Spy Kids.” The problem is that Benjamin is not excited; he can hardly intone or memorize his Hebrew or please the egotistical rabbi played with serene pretension by Richard Benjamin. The fun begins when, against his father’s wishes, Benjamin invites his estranged Grandfather Irwin to come two weeks earlier. Played by Garry Marshall, uncle of director Scott Marshall, he’s living on a Navajo reservation with his young, new-age girlfriend, played by Daryl Hannah. Picture the scene when the two arrive in a rundown trailer. And Grandma, the woman he left long ago? To detail all the fun is to lessen yours, but along the way, Irwin proves to be just what Benjamin needs to instill confidence and pop the balloon of foolish extravagance that goes with keeping pace with the Steins. The bonus is that along with the humor, we learn just what a Bar Mitzvah represents in the life of a boy, as well as in the Jewish tradition. No preaching or heavy-handed stuff. It’s sweet, funny, and intelligent all at once. And it is smart. I almost forgot. The final ceremony serves up a surprise entertainer singing a familiar song.