Review of The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson's magical and idiosyncratic films rely on endearing eccentricities, humorously misdirected conversations, and meticulously placed details to draw audiences into worlds both awkwardly familiar and surreally pristine. The Darjeeling Limited is no exception to this style, despite the addition of both Roman Coppola (son of Francis Ford) and Jason Schwartzman to the writing staff.

Anderson crafts a colorful world in which three brothers, Francis (Owen Wilson), Peter (Adrien Brody), and Jack (Schwartzman), attempt to reconnect and find spiritual tranquility. Traveling by train through India, the brothers take part in religious rituals, bicker, and drink cough syrup. The plot becomes more substantial when Francis reveals that the trip's true intent is to track down their mother (Angelica Huston), who has become a nun in the countryside and was absent at their father's recent funeral.

After releasing a deadly snake in their compartment and attacking each other with pepper spray, the brothers are kicked off the train, ending a pseudo-romantic relationship between Jack and a stewardess. Without means of transportation, the brothers camp out, drag their load of excessive luggage around, and end up jumping into a river to rescue three drowning boys. The ensuing events have a deep effect on Peter and after spending some potentially enlightening time in a small Indian village, the brothers decide to return home without visiting their mother.

At this point, the movie takes a turn into an ineffective 20-minute attempt at extraneous resolution. The brothers again ask questions, ponder answers, and are left ultimately empty-handed. However, after the numerous adventures, disasters, and disappointments that have befallen them, Francis, Peter, and Jack finally seem to trust and understand one another.

The Darjeeling Limited is not as sharp and decisive as Anderson's masterpiece The Royal Tenenbaums, but it follows along the same clever, quirky, and strangely poignant track that Anderson fans love (with the possibility of attracting a wider audience based on an extended scene involving Natalie Portman partially nude). For a film dealing with the broad meaning of brotherhood and the vibrant culture of India , it is a mark of true brilliance that the charm of The Darjeeling Limited lies mostly in subtleties.