Watch The Hotel New Hampshire

The Hotel New Hampshire, based on the novel of the same name by John Irving, is a drama-comedy film that tells the story of the Berry family. The Berry family is quite unconventional- the father, Win Berry (Beau Bridges) is a writer who gets drunk frequently, the mother, Mary Berry (Lisa Banes) is quite sarcastic and critical, and the children have their own set of quirks. Frank (Rob Lowe) is the eldest, sexually frustrated son who has the hots for his sister, Franny (Jodie Foster), who is a budding feminist and writer. John (Paul McCrane) is the brother who suffers from a debilitating stutter.

The film starts with the family members living in several hotels in Vienna as Win is researching for his next novel. The family moves to a hotel in New Hampshire, where they decide to buy and renovate a hotel named "The Hotel New Hampshire." The family is a motley crew of personalities- zany, chaotic, and often dysfunctional, but they share a unique bond as a family that is almost unbreakable. They even come up with their own motto, "Keeping alive the notion that we're all in this together, even if we're not."

The plot mainly revolves around the Berry family's life in the hotel, particularly their relationships with each other and the hotel guests. The Berry family attempts to create a welcoming space, both for themselves and the hotel guests, even if that means tolerating eccentric behavior. The film also delves into various social and political issues like feminism, the Vietnam War, and incest.

The cast of The Hotel New Hampshire does a fantastic job of bringing to life the quirky characters. Rob Lowe's portrayal of Frank, the sexually frustrated and troubled brother, is particularly noteworthy. Jodie Foster is also exceptional in her role as Franny, the feminist and writer.

The film's director, Tony Richardson, does an excellent job of creating a surrealist world that blends humor with poignant moments. The Hotel New Hampshire could have been a predictable and syrupy family drama, but Richardson's deft touch makes it an intriguing film. Part of what makes the movie a standout is its surrealism; for example, a stuffed bear comes to life, and the Berry family keeps it as a family pet.

The Hotel New Hampshire is not for everyone. Its unique blend of humor and tragedy may not appeal to everyone, and its treatment of topics like incest can be controversial. However, the movie's redeeming factor is that it is ultimately a heartwarming tale about the strength of the family bond, even if that bond is tested in unimaginable ways.

Overall, The Hotel New Hampshire is an entertaining and thought-provoking film that showcases the oddball family dynamics that can exist under one roof. It's a wild and wacky ride that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer long after the credits have rolled.

The Hotel New Hampshire is a 1984 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9 and a MetaScore of 36.