Stuart Saves His Family (1995)

Though it seems like a one-joke premise, this spinoff of Al Franken's Saturday Night Live character, self-help nerd Stuart Smalley, actually has some substance. And, in fact, it offers a message that wouldn't be out of place at an Al-Anon meeting (although with the laughs). Stuart, fired from his cable TV self-help show, goes home to resolve a family crisis. Dad (Harris Yulin) is an abusive drunk, Mom (Shirley Knight) is an enabler, Sis is an over-eater, and Brother has a problem with his temper. The film turns serious, but Franken actually makes the drama interesting, using humor to leaven it. And he brings a certain sympathy and resolve to the lisping, cross-eyed Stuart. To be sure, it's not your typical SNL movie. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com

There are about ten laughs in this film by smarmfart Al Franken. Worth seeing once

There are about ten laughs in this film by smarmfart Al Franken. Worth seeing once.

But Franken's brilliant creation is Stuart himself.

Full disclosure: I loath Franken's politics and most of his other humour, but this work is a brilliant exception.

Stuart Saves his family is an overlong extension of a SNL skit about "Stuart" the over twelve-stepped psychological casualty of our continuously self-indulgent selves. Rather than overcome his traumas, Stuart nurses them like a bacteriological growth in an inner Petri dish. He stumbles through a series of activities where his therapiezed world view provides conflict with others functioning normally (operating thetans), and abnormally (everyone in his family). I never really got the works of LRH, but his paranoia about "the Psycholos are coming" pretty much sums up the character Stuart....this is the kind of human being you get after all that.

But this is not gut-busting humour. This is light comedy that makes you think, and does have an unobjectionable uplifting element. January 3, 2008

I was in this film! But it's still no good.....

I'll admit I liked the Stuart Smalley sketches, but this film is atrocious. It's especially disappointing because I was actually an extra on it (when I was rather young, and I didn't make the final cut, which isn't why I dislike the film). The film was a chore to sit through, another example of taking an SNL sketch (a memorable one, mind you) and stretching into an 85 minute bore. It doesn't help that Franken, who I never thought was hilarious, is not a great lead actor and he can't really carry this film. He's a decent writer who is quite overrated in my opinion (and rather smug on his radio show). The film tries for seriousness at times, but then Stuart Smalley is so silly and over the top, you're not sure what the filmmakers intended. Despite the fact that the actual shoot was very, very enjoyable, the result here is very poor and disappointing. They should just put a lid on SNL sketch films for a while.... November 1, 2007

Doggone it, I like this movie!

Absolutely hilarious. And, painfully true.

Anyone who has gone through any kind of recovery program can identify with the humour of Stuart Saves His Family.

Great stuff. Al Franken is a genius. My favorite scene is when Stuart in a fit of depression, holes up in bed with packages of cookies.

Excellent... July 25, 2007

Funny- if you have nothing better to do

This was a funny movie. Probably not one of the funniest SNL movies, but better than SUPERSTAR. It would have been even better if Al Franken had not become AL FRANKEN since it came out. Even with his real life aside, it still made me laugh and I applaud his performance. February 1, 2007

Every bit as funny as I remembered!

This movie deserves to be a comedy cult classic. The Smalley family is as familiar as, well, your own, and the way the movie reveals their dysfunction is pitch perfect. Team up lively writing, a great cast, and the right balance of heartwarming and sarcastic humor, and you have Stuart Saves His Family. January 6, 2007

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