Darjeeling Limited, The

Rating: ***/*****, or 7/10

So far, Wes Anderson's worst film. However, a more apt description would be this is his least good film, since it's by no means a bad movie, once again utilizing his signature colourful style to great visual effect. It's the overly sentimental plot that gets stuck in family drama (another Wes Anderson staple) a little too often that's the main problem. Three brothers (Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody), all very different from one another, trek across India by train in hopes of a bonding experience after having drifted apart due to the death of their father. They also set out in search of their mother (Anjelica Huston) who resides in those parts. Each has their personal demons to overcome in the process, be they drug related, depression, or a troubled relationship with a woman. While exploring the beauty of India via the railroad, each deals with his problems in his own way, which leads to various hilarious moments in the first half of the film, among other things involving a beautiful female train attendant, her overprotective lover and a venomous snake. Anderson's usually offbeat and oddball comedy sadly is traded in for overly melodramatic family squabbling and reconciliation in the picture's second half. Overall, this movie is a mixed bag, but far from a failure and otherwise as 'Wesandersonesque' as they come. Featuring bit parts of Natalie Portman and Wes Anderson's personal muse Bill Murray.

As a compendium piece to flesh out the Jason Schwartzman character, Anderson directed the short film Hotel Chevalier, which was shown as a short feature in front of The Darjeeling Limited in many theaters. It worked as a footnote released together with the main film, but by itself it seemed like an excuse to have Natalie Portman take off her clothes, which is also not a bad thing per se.

Starring: Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody

Directed by Wes Anderson

USA: Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2007