Table for Five Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		2.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Table for Five Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 24, 2016

The blockbuster success of 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer” (the highest grossing film of its year) inspired Hollywood to pursue divorced dads as main characters for melodramas, finally assured that audiences would turn out for tales about melancholy men suddenly hit with parental duties they once shared or outright refused to participate in. The pop culture takeover of “Kramer vs. Kramer” is really the only way to explain the creation of 1983’s “Table for Five,” which charts a similar course of domestic absenteeism suddenly confronted with total child-rearing responsibility, working through an awkward adjustment period with a main character who just isn’t prepared for the daily battle. Although it largely avoids swimming in syrup, “Table for Five” can’t help but lean into overt emotionality on occasion, attempting to find the rhythm of a tearjerker in a movie that’s at its best when trapped in a state of shock.

A former professional golfer and habitual womanizer, J.P. (Jon Voight) is looking to reconnect with his children after realizing just how out of touch he’s become. Kathleen (Millie Perkins) is his ex-wife, and she’s trying to work up the patience to tolerate this sudden change of heart, agreeing to let Tilde (Roxana Zal), Truman (Robby Kiger), and adopted son Trung (Son Haong Bui) take a cruise with J.P., visiting European countries before settling on Egypt. Kathleen’s husband Mitchell (Richard Crenna) has his hesitations as well, but the couple puts their trust in the playboy, who quickly realizes just how ill-prepared he is to take care of three kids and manage a sex life, trying his luck with single women on the ship. While he finds a receptive partner in Marie (Marie-Christine Barrault), who also struggles with divorce, J.P. has difficulty handling his children, confronted with their demands and rebellion, quickly coming to the queasy realization that he may not be cut out for the job, inspiring him to trying a different approach to reach his hesitant offspring.

Directed by Robert Lieberman (“Fire in the Sky,” “D3: The Mighty Ducks”), “Table for Five” isn’t bold enough to shake up the formula these types of movies tend to follow, establishing J.P. as a man who’s lived a carefree existence, leaving child-rearing to Kathleen and Mitchell, who’ve built a life together, caring for Tilde, Truman, and Trung to the best of their ability, giving them stability. The screenplay by David Seltzer (director of “Lucas” and “Punchline”) looks to inspect the abrasive relationship between J.P. and Kathleen, who objects to her ex-husband’s impulsiveness and renewed interest in their broken relationship. She’s ultimately urged to trust the man who once failed her, setting up tensions at home as J.P. and the kids board a ship to visit exotic locations and work on their family dynamic.

Formulaic but effective hostilities develop in “Table for Five,” finding J.P.’s insistence on a single man lifestyle while on a trip with his children the most troubling. He’s motivated by his sexual urges, and finds a willing partner in Marie, who grows to bond with the father, sharing parental and divorce advice. However, the kids hate J.P.’s constant distraction, growing irritated with his abandonment and lies, and issues of misbehavior increase. Tilde is the mother-figure of the group, sensitive and caring for a young teen, tending to Truman’s needs when J.P. won’t, comforting the boy as his illiteracy is revealed. Trung is 14 years old and unsettled, embarking on a series of mischievous events to test boundaries, while his need to find a permanent home away from his once troubled life keeps him on edge, used to watching loved ones walk away. The screenplay does a commendable job preserving distinct psychological displays from the kids and adults, as J.P. is confronted with an entire world he had no idea existed, dealing with youngsters he barely knows. It’s inherently sad stuff, but Voight delivers a lively, Cagney-esque performance as J.P., digging into character quirks and alpha male determination. He’s supported by wonderful child actors, with Lieberman keeping these delicate turns as authentic as possible.

“Table for Five” switches from a tale of management to one of need in its second half, with the dynamic changing between J.P. and his children, while putting Mitchell in a difficult spot of parental leadership without a critical biological connection. It’s impossible to describe without diving into spoiler territory, but the screenplay does handle the potential for manipulation well, only periodically indulging Voight as J.P. examines newfound feelings with soap opera-style body language. “Table for Five” gets dark, but it never loses focus, always remaining on the core relationship between a father and his kids, which grows complicated in the last act, leading to a slightly troubling ending that almost punishes Mitchell’s noble sense of responsibility. Thankfully, this grim idea is quickly discarded.

Table for Five Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks ancient, highlighting an older master that has difficulty managing the specific needs of the soft cinematography, barely allowed life under layers of filtering. Detail is smoothed out, lacking defined facial particulars, which would come in handy during the feature's emotional scenes. Cruise ship textures are also lacking power, making the global adventure look flat and uninviting. Colors are drained, without natural vibrancy, and skintones read a bit too red at times. Delineation isn't crisp, dealing with milkier blacks. Pixelation is periodically encountered, and the source shows moderate wear and tear, offering scratches and speckling throughout.

Table for Five Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix also deals with age-related issues, offering mild hiss and pops during the listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are on the crispy side, with shrill highs but passable lows. While intelligibility isn't challenged, voices are a bit buried here, lacking natural appeal. Scoring fares a little better, and while it's also missing some needed definition, mournful moods are secured with adequate instrumentation. Atmospherics for ship activities are available, contributing hallway and dining room bustle, while cultural tours maintain community activity.

Table for Five Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

Table for Five Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If the drama of "Table for Five" grows tiresome, there are still grand locations to enjoy, watching J.P. organize trips around Rome and Greece, ending up at the pyramids of Egypt, which acts as a stage for the father's final breakdown. There are impressive tech credits on the film as well (which is edited by Michael Kahn and shot by Vilmos Zsigmond), keeping the visual experience interesting when the story occasionally fatigues, but those who appreciate a competent emotional picture are sure to find something of worth in "Table of Five." It's a little exaggerated at times, but never hokey, understanding the weight of parenthood, especially with a character who's never experienced it before.