Featuring an ensemble cast, suburban setting, and humorous holiday shenanigans, “The Oranges” seemed initially to be heading toward “Christmas With The Kranks” territory as it approached its TIFF premiere last year. However, since the project's 2008 Black List inclusion by writers Jay Reiss and Ian Helfer, a steady buzz has grown into the film's well-received screenings and recent first trailer, and now comes an opportunity to see Allison Janney cut loose in the film's red-band offering.
Coming off directing mostly “Entourage” episodes, director Julian Farino looks to have transferred successfully to film by skewing stranger than your average holiday fare. While not delving to the depths of “Bad Santa,” the comedy nonetheless offers up its own take on marital infidelity, as Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, and Janney play congenial couples who react to Laurie's sudden affair with Platt's daughter (Leighton Meester). At least showcasing its group of veteran actors having fun alongside the supporting cast of Adam Brody and Alia Shawkat, our review also confirmed a surprising tone within the narrative, noting that the film “deftly navigates between the comic opportunities it presents and very real depiction of people in pain to keep the story rooted to something relatable.” The mildly bawdy trailer mostly plays for laughs, but Laurie stepping back into a more exaggerated comedic role should be a worthwhile draw.
“The Oranges” is set to open the San Diego Film Festival this month before it hits theaters on October 5th. Check the trailer out below. [Vlicious]
