The Thing About My Folks (2005): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2005, The Thing About My Folks is a comedy, drama and family film directed by Raymond De Felitta, running about 96 minutes. “Sometimes the fruit falls very far from the tree.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Ben's dad Sam shows up one night with a note from Ben's mother (Sam's wife of 46 years), that she has left. While Ben's wife and his three sisters try to find her, Ben takes Sam on a day trip to see a farmhouse that's for sale. The day trip turns into a road trip while dad and son explore their past, their relationship, and why Sam's wife might have left him. The road trip includes fishing, drinking, playing pool, sleeping under the stars, and frank discussion. Anger simmers close at hand, as do love and hope. Where Sam's wife is - and why she left - leads to the movie's resolution.

Who’s in it. The Thing About My Folks stars Peter Falk as Sam Kleinman, Paul Reiser as Ben Kleinman, Olympia Dukakis as Muriel Kleinman and Elizabeth Perkins as Rachel Kleinman, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, The Thing About My Folks has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Thing About My Folks page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Thing About My Folks tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.