The Hollars

The Hollars is a 2016 American comedy-drama film directed by John Krasinski and written by James C. Strouse. The film stars an ensemble cast namely, John Krasinski, who also directs, Margo Martindale, Sharlto Copley, Anna Kendrick, Charlie Day, and Richard Jenkins. This stellar ensemble breathes life into the comedic yet poignant narrative that makes up this film, led by Krasinski’s character, John Hollar.

The Hollars unravels a tale of a dysfunctional family coming together during a crisis, navigating their complicated relationships, personal struggles, and family dynamics, all with a mix of humor and pathos that is both real and palpable. This is not your average family drama, but one that breaks the mold with its distinct style, thanks to Krasinski's unique approach to this film, blending comedy and drama in the right balance.

The protagonist, John Hollar, is a struggling New York City graphic novelist, living a fairly uneventful life. His mundane existence is shaken up when he receives a distressing call about his mother's (Margo Martindale) grave illness. This compels him to return to his small hometown, leaving behind his pregnant girlfriend, played by Anna Kendrick. However, returning home proves to be a different kind of challenge altogether where he is quickly absorbed back into the eccentricities of his quirky family, including his overly anxious father played by Jenkins, and his aimless brother played by Copley.

Sharlto Copley stands out in his role as Ron Hollar, the less successful sibling who can’t seem to function without his family. Copley’s Ron adds a strong humor component to the movie as he bumbles and stumbles through his post-divorce existence, still fixated on his ex-wife who has clearly moved on. His interactions and exchanges with the members of his family provide some of the film's more humorous and light-hearted moments.

On the other hand, Richard Jenkins as the family’s patriarch suffering a financial crunch and a crushing fear of losing his ailing wife extends a more serious note to the storyline. He infuses his character with vulnerability and melancholy, offering a deep insight into a man who appears cheerful and jovial on the outside but is a bundle of nerves within. The film’s narrative allows Jenkins to display his range as he deals with varied emotions.

Martindale delivers a power-packed performance as the matriarch of the Hollar family. Even in her deteriorating health and despite being the reason the family is in crisis, she remains the film's lynchpin, the character around whom every other character orbits, pulling the family together when it threatens to come apart.

Krasinski’s personal life is tangled when his past and present cross paths. His high school sweetheart, now married to a nurse (Charlie Day), works in the same hospital his mother is being treated in. Day delivers an eccentric and quirky performance that adds flair to the narrative. Meanwhile, Anna Kendrick as John’s pregnant girlfriend brings her signature charm and warmth to the role.

The Hollars retreats from cliches of a generic dysfunctional family drama. Instead, this is more a slice of life film full of heart, humour, and authenticity, underlined by the theme of coming home and rediscovering your roots. The narrative is filled with familial nostalgia, displaying the ups and downs of each member’s life with poignancy and maturity.

The film’s deft touch with comedy, despite the sadness infused in the storyline, keeps the narrative engaging. It oscillates between hilarities and heartbreaks, making you laugh in one moment and tear up in the next. Krasinski masterfully navigates the film's tonal shifts, allowing the story to unfold with a beguiling naturalness that infects the viewer with a sense of being a part of the Hollar family.

Overall, The Hollars is an emotionally resonant, deeply engaging, and often hysterically funny story that explores the nuanced dynamics of a family crisis. Elegant, charming, and nuanced - this touching comedy-drama is a must-watch for those who appreciate heartfelt cinema. The performances of the cast, along with Krasinski's adept direction, make The Hollars a memorable movie that beautifully captures the messy, tumultuous, and yet loving core of familial ties.