The Oranges

90 minutes

David and Paige Ostroff (Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener) and Terry and Cathy Walling (Oliver Platt, Allison Janney) are best friends and neighbors living on Orange Drive in suburban New Jersey. Their comfortable existence goes awry when prodigal daughter Nina Ostroff (Leighton Meester), newly broken up with her fiance Ethan (Sam Rosen), returns home for Thanksgiving after a five-year absence. Rather than developing an interest in the successful son of her neighbors, Toby Walling (Adam Brody),which would please both families, it's her parents' best friend David who captures Nina's attention. When the connection between Nina and David becomes undeniable, everyone's lives are thrown into upheaval, particularly Vanessa Walling's (Alia Shawkat), Nina's childhood best friend. It's not long before the ramifications of the affair begin to work on all of the family members in unexpected and hilarious ways, leading everyone to reawaken to their lives, reassess what it means to be happy, and realize that sometimes what looks like a disaster turns out to be the thing we need.

81% on the CINEMETER

79% - Sep 23, 2012

Only Hugh Laurie could do this without making the situation creepy!
Washington, DC Member

A very real movie; could be happening in any suburb- probably is.
Washington, DC Member

Sweetly complicated story about the messiness of finding love and intimacy and identity. Hugh is always a trip.
Washington, DC Member

82% - Sep 23, 2012

I needed a fun movie today - this was that, but not silly. Enough serious material to anchor it, but heartfelt, warm and FUNNY! Great acting (except for Leighton Meester)
San Francisco Member

Great, lively script - kept the film moving over unexpected territory.
San Francisco Member

While the May-December romance outline wasn't believable, the film is so well-written and acted that resistance was futile. Having played Ultimate Frisbee in my late 30's, there's no way the Oliver Platt character would have lasted half a game in his shape!
San Francisco Member

83% - Sep 23, 2012

Joy to the world, let family chaos reign. Delightful eggnog of a film, laced with humor and the painful messiness of real life.
Greater New Haven Member

I loved every moment, and I do not need to know exactly why.
Greater New Haven Member

Loved it! Carried realistic issues to the extreme with great effect. Felt uncomfortable, laughed a lot, felt sad. A great dramedy.
Greater New Haven Member

ATL

79% - Sep 30, 2012

A very light-hearted version of AMERICAN BEAUTY. ¬†Charming, witty, with occasional script holes. ¬†Nice way to spend the morning.
Atlanta Member

Happiness doesn't always come easily. ¬†Sometimes you have to really work for it. This film illuminated that truism with the help of a great cast and a great script.
Atlanta Member

I liked the fact that it did not neatly tie up all the threads.
Atlanta Member

ATO Pictures