The Darjeeling Limited

How little plot and character development can you have and still make a good movie? This is a question that Wes Anderson seems to want to visit over and over again. His motto seems to be, it is better to look good than to feel good.

In his latest film, The Darjeeling Limited, Owen Wilson stars as Francis Whitman, the oldest of three brothers whom he has reunited under false pretenses. Recovering from undisclosed injuries he claims gave him a new found lease on life, Francis hatches a plan to reconnect with his younger siblings in India, coordinated down to the last detail (he has an assistant that provides laminated itineraries each day). His brothers each have their own issues -- Peter (Adrien Brody) is about to become a father, while Jack (Jason Schwartzman) is despondent over an ex-girlfriend. While Peter and jack are initially reluctant to open up to the prospect of a spiritual or emotional epiphany, they come together when Jack reveals the real reason for the trip -- to find their estranged mother Patricia (Angelica Huston) who is also in India working at a convent taking care of orphans. The family schism is a result of their father's death and their mother's failure to attend the funeral.

Much like The Life Aquatic, the setting -- a train ride through India -- is really the star of this movie. And like The Royal Tenenbaums, the characters only give you what little you need to keep you interested. If you are a fan of Anderson and his understated form, you should enjoy this film.