The Tribes of Palos Verdes

Phil (Justin Kirk) and Sandy Mason (Jennifer Garner) represent the quintessential American family who have made a significant transition, bringing their teenage twins, Medina (Maika Monroe) and Jim (Cody Fern), to the scenic Palos Verdes. Yet, beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect life resides a tangled web of insecurities and contradictions. Sandy, often seen in her soft pink bathrobe, grapples with adapting to their new environment, while Phil revels in the local social scene, his carefree demeanor often contrasting sharply with Sandy’s more introverted nature.

As tensions rise, Sandy’s emotional state spirals into a whirlwind of paranoia and suspicion. She confronts Phil with accusations of infidelity, pointing to late nights and an unmistakable scent of Chanel perfume lingering in his car as her evidence. Just as their marriage teeters on the verge of disintegration, Phil drops a bombshell: he has fallen for Ava (Alicia Silverstone), the real estate agent who facilitated their home purchase.

Caught in the emotional crossfire, Phil persuades Medina to confide in Sandy about his feelings for Ava, yet Medina chooses to remain silent and withdraw into herself. This leads to a fierce standoff between Sandy and Phil, where Sandy threatens to leave, and Jim surprisingly sides with her. In a moment of heated turmoil, Phil makes the regrettable choice to slap Jim, igniting a vicious cycle of retaliation, resulting in Jim retaliating by striking his father.

As the family stands at the brink of collapse, Phil seeks comfort in Ava’s embrace while Sandy throws herself into extravagant spending sprees. Medina finds an unlikely refuge in surfing, but Jim spirals into substance abuse and self-hate. Amid this chaos, Medina forms an unexpected bond with Phil and Ava during a dinner, where she meets their charming son Adrian (Noah Silver) before he embarks on his collegiate journey.

However, Jim’s struggles reach a bleak climax when he ends up hospitalized, prompting a complicated mix of relief and regret for Phil when he arrives. In a poignant exchange, Jim expresses his desire for his father’s company on an imminent Paris trip, only to be met with the dismissive excuse that it’s just a work obligation for Ava’s debut abroad. The promise of future adventures lingers, yet the family’s already fragile dynamics remain dangerously unstable.

The once serene atmosphere of their home is now overshadowed by discord, with Jim’s pain evident as he grapples with feelings of rejection from Phil. Meanwhile, Medina finds comfort with Adrian, and their fleeting night of intimacy blossoms into something tender, only to face an abrupt shift when Adrian leaves, forcing Medina to confront her feelings.

As Medina navigates her tumultuous emotions, she grows increasingly concerned about Jim’s escalating volatility, which erupts in a destructive episode against Adrian’s car. Sandy, however, is skeptical of Medina’s worries, believing Jim to be capable of managing himself. But Medina’s perspective reveals a more troubling truth: her mother often treats Jim more like a partner than her son.

In a defining moment, Medina realizes that she and Jim must escape their toxic home environment. Adrian unwittingly aids them by providing Medina with hidden money from their father. Their escape plan, however, is shattered when Jim relapses, leading to erratic behavior, including a desperate attempt to incinerate their front yard. Medina’s frantic efforts to save him from himself lead her to alert Sandy as Jim’s rampage continues. Eventually, Jim’s capture by authorities marks the rise of darker shadows over his previously bright future, his struggles with addiction catching up with him in a powerful way.

As the consequences of Jim’s actions unfold within the hospital, doctors reveal he may have experienced a psychotic break influenced by his chaotic home life and drug use. Medina remains steadfastly by his side, committed to supporting him on his road to recovery and redemption.

The film draws to a close with Medina’s initial narrations echoing the themes of artificial beauty versus real emotions, underscoring the turmoil they’ve endured. She reflects on the day she discovered Jim unconscious on the beach, his heart sidelined by a cocktail of prescription drugs he’d obtained illicitly.

A somber atmosphere envelops the family as they gather to mourn at the beach, where Sandy, overcome with anguish, scatters Jim’s ashes into the waves, blending her tears with the salty spray of the ocean. In a heartfelt voiceover, Medina recalls the unfulfilled promises of refuge offered by both her parents, each trying to rebuild their shattered lives.

Ultimately, Medina chooses to defy their expectations and carve her own path. With renewed determination, she sets out to embrace life, ride the waves, and explore new horizons, forging a journey that not only honors Jim’s memory but also embodies the unyielding spirit of resilience.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 11:54