Two unsuccessful siblings reunite with their dysfunctional parents after an accident just to lose them a couple of days later. Considering their fame about making pranks in real life and considering them art, they are a bit conspicuous at the beginning, but still try to investigate the bloody disappearance, which seemed more real than ever. At the same time, the two must try to control their troubled lives, forget about the past that has been haunting them, but also be prepared to uncover a huge hoax, or a terrifying truth.

It has a very interesting idea of a family obsessed with practical jokes which uses its children for every performance, but all starts to fall apart once the kids begin to age, separate from their family and are somewhat ashamed with their parent but mainly their past. Although very slow paced, it somehow finds a way to keep your attention until the end, which, by the way, is simply wow... Unfortunately not in a good way. The entire movie is quite boring, the disappearance part being the main reason to keep watching. The main characters are also boring and predictable, while their search seems to be as pointless as it is clueless. As I said before, the finale, although it is unexpected in a way, amazes you through its profoundness. Also, it leaves it as it was before, being there only to explain the plot but also making it useless and a complete waste of time. Contrary to what you might think, it manages to correct the lives of the two main characters who finally can succeed in both their careers and life.

It simply lacks complexity and the actors don't manage to do anything in making better. Although it had an unique and interesting premise, the action itself is dull, slow paced and leads to an unsatisfying finale.

This Be The Verse, by Philip Larkin, opens with the lines: "They f*ck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do." The Family Fang is basically an exploration of that thesis. The parents of two damaged individuals go missing. The siblings come together to try and find them, one believing they have fallen foul of serial killers, the other thinking this is another prank in a long line of stunts their parents are famous for. All the actors do credible turns, but the themes could be explored more deeply. The revelation that the father never wanted children should impact much more heavily than it does. The waning career of Kidman's actor character seems a slight and peripheral concern. Bateman's near death-by-potato is funny, but doesn't resonate to a deeper malaise. The film carries the comedy well, but the darkness is less truthful and engaging. A spotty film, with bright moments, but I wanted more than it delivered.

"Our parents aren't missing. They are artists, this is all a performance." Baxter (Bateman) and Annie (Kidman) Baxter are brother and sister who have tried their best to put their past behind them. After Baxter is injured the hospital calls their parents. Growing up they were forced to be a part of performance art with their famous parents. When tempers flare and things are said the parents leave, and wind up missing and presumed dead. Not believing something happened to them for real the two siblings start to investigate. There are some movies that are good no matter who is in them, and there are some movies that are made better because of the cast. This is that kind of movie. The idea isn't all that original, but the cast of Bateman, Kidman and Walken really make the movie better than it is and makes it worth watching for that reason if nothing else. There are some pretty funny things in this, but I would call this more drama than comedy. Another dysfunctional family movie that is really missing something to make you connect to the characters, but the actors did all they could. Overall, a movie that isn't bad and is entertaining, but mainly due to the cast. I give this a B-.