A Day in the Life of The Meyersons

Aug 24, 2021 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Sue Weston and Susie Rosenbluth – Two Sues on the Aisle

The Magnificent Meyersons shares a New York moment, a glimpse into an ordinary day in the life of three generations living in New York City, dealing with petty annoyances until everything is turned upside down by the universe. Get to know the Meyersons as their interpersonal complexities unravel, how one event changes everything. The Magnificent Meyersons, written and directed by Evan Oppenheimer, takes an unusual look at faith, fate as memories of the past collide with reality, and aliens.

All-Star Cast

Believability, as complex family dynamic unfolds, is due to exceptional acting from an amazing cast featuring Dr. Terri Meyerson (Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black) an oncologist, whose husband Morty Meyerson (Richard Kind, The Goldbergs) abandoned the family years earlier leaving her to raise four young children, and care for her aging mother (Celeste, Barbara Barrie). 

The family is composed of four children, the oldest son, Roland (played by Ian Kahn) a successful businessman, while the eldest daughter Daphne (Jackie Burns) is in a complicated marriage, unable to sleep overwhelmed with raising a daughter along with a doting husband. Daniel (Daniel Eric Gold) is a reluctant rabbinical student who offers advice from a park bench. Finally, Susie (Shoshannah Stern) is an ambitious, deaf, lesbian real estate agent.  They play off each other with a familiar fluency, evoking a love-hate relationship unique to siblings, connected by memories presented as flashbacks providing context to their strained relationships.

The Difficulty of Relationships

The opening scene shows a family pillow fight between four young children and their father, frolicking, laughing blissfully. While no family is perfect, it looks like the Meyersons have it figured out. At least it appears that they had.

Segway to present-day New York City where through a series of apparently random segments of we are reintroduced to each of the Meyersons, capturing portions of conversations, drifting, and moving on to the next family member. 

The matriarch, Dr. Terri is a highly respected oncologist, shown telling a family that their child has only three months to live, before taking her mother for a walk in the park. Roland, despite his success in business, is overly concerned with his daughter’s well-being, demanding she is immediately evaluated by his mother for a random complaint. Daphne, overwhelmed by the demands of raising one child, obsessing over a dream, is desperate to leave the workforce, but afraid. Life appears to weigh heavily on these siblings, Roland complains that the pressure of having a great day is unnecessarily high. Even Daniel the aspiring Rabbi is searching and asks for a sign ‘I wish that G-D would reach down and give the world a big old shake’.  Surprisingly, it is Susie, the deaf relator can express empathy, love, and support, especially for her father’s struggles.

The Face of Anxiety

When the children were young, Morty was the glue that held the family together while his wife was going to medical school. As the children grew older, he became anxious worried something would happen to them, that he would not be able to protect them. His anxiety increased as his children became more independent. His struggle to protect the children became an everyday reality, combined with his inability to know that they are safe. 

Exposing Morty’s battle with anxiety may help parents, letting them see that their fear is real, and often misunderstood.  While offering support, suggesting that parents have a limited impact on their children, reminding us to appreciate each moment as a precious memory frozen in time.

Artful Treatment of Complicated Topics

Oppenheimer explores many complex issues in light conversational segments, including the difficulty of parenting. As they stroll through the park Terri and Celeste admit to being terrible mothers, marvel over the promise and resilience of children.

The Magnificent Meyersons offers a beautiful way to view the complexities of life. “The world is wonderful, strange, and unpredictable. We each get to write and interpret our own stories. No one ever gets what they deserve, things just happen.’ Concluding that “Everything matters, all of it!” 

The Magnificent Meyersons can be viewed virtually through the websites of the theaters showing the film, which can be found at argotpictures.com https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8293590/

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Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs it pays to buy (rather than make) in order to see the play, show, film, or exhibit being reviewed. 5 Challahs is our highest rating.

The Magnificent Meyersons received a 4 Challah rating.