In The Estate, several distant family members suddenly find themselves reunited over the (un)fortunate news that their very wealthy, and cranky, Aunt Hilda (Kathleen Turner) has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. What ensues is a whole bunch of hilarity, as each member tries to outperform the other with whatever it takes to woo Auntie into making them the sole beneficiary.

Sisters Macey (Toni Collette) and Savannah (Anna Faris) desperately need funds to keep their cafe open so they decide to pay Auntie a visit, unknowing to the fact cousin Beatrice (Rosemarie DeWitt)and her sidestep husband James (Ron Livingston) have already flown in from NYC.  When suave perverted cousin Richard (David Duchovny) shows up wanting a piece, the playing field gets competitive. 

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

All sounds quite simple, right? Of course not. Once each understands that they must fend for themselves, it’s survival of the fittest. Who, if any, can win Aunt Hilda over? Duchovny gives off a hilarious performance as Richard, the man-child that hasn’t grown up and is still hitting on his cousins like when they were kids. Beatrice is likely the strongest of the bunch in terms of determination and a viable plan, but her wimpy husband provides a roadblock to her success.

In the end, it’s Macey and Savannah who concoct the most outrageous plan of all – to get Hilda laid before she dies. They end up unknowingly recruiting a released sex offender, and set them up for a dinner date at Hilda’s place. One look inside this mansion, and the old “flasher” not only has eyes on Hilda, but all her cash as well. Hilda is won over and announces she’s marrying him the next day, and all her assets will be transferred to his name upon her death. Backfire!

All in all, it’s one of those comedy of errors type films, that actually works in the end.

Now playing in theatres. Available from Signature Films.

The film stars Toni Collette, (The Staircase) and Anna Faris (House Bunny) as two down on their luck sisters determined to become the prime beneficiaries of their Aunt’s will. The ensemble includes:David Duchovny (The X-Files;Californication) and Rosemarie DeWitt (The Staircase; Little Fires Everywhere)as their cousins and chief rivals, Richard and Beatrice;Ron Livingston, as Beatrice’s compliant husband,James; Keyla Monterroso Mejia(Curb Your Enthusiasm) as the sisters’Dungeons & Dragons obsessed younger sibling, Ellen, and Kathleen Turner(The Kominsky Method), as the fearsome family matriarch, Aunt Hilda.

 

 

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.