Sons & Daughters (2006)

Centered on a dysfunctional extended family, Sons and Daughters is a unique comedy with a scripted story line and mostly improvised dialog.

In the middle of this crazy family are Cameron and his wife Liz. With two young children and the recent arrival of a teenage son from Cameron’s first marriage (who is not adjusting well to his new surroundings), the couple has their hands full. Their life is complicated even more by living life in close proximity--literally and emotionally--with Cameron’s family. Cameron and Liz seem to find themselves in the middle of all the family drama.

Cameron’s sister Sharon and her husband, Don, have two teenage children. Though the couple pretends that they are happily married, the entire family (including their children) is all too aware of their emotional and sexual issues.

Jenna, Cameron’s half sister, is struggling as a single mom to raise her son Danny. Although Jenna's "bad boy" ex-boyfriend Whitey is very involved in Danny's life, he seems to be unable to remain employed anywhere, so he is unable to contribute much financially toward raising his son. Jenna has moved back in with her parents in order to ease the burden of raising her son alone.

Colleen (the siblings' mother) and Wendal (father to Jenna and stepfather to Cameron and Colleen) are extremely devoted to their adult children and their grandchildren. Not surprisingly, however, they have issues of their own. Colleen is uptight and incredibly judgmental, and though deeply in love with her husband of 25 years, she is sometimes restless in her marriage. Wendal is very loving toward all of three of the kids, raising and loving them as if they were all his own, but still struggles with the varied relationships he has with his extended family members.

At the end of the day, this group of characters is committed to each other and, whether despite their eccentricities or because of them, they love each other in their own peculiar ways, portrayed wonderfully by a talented group of actors in this quirky family comedy.