The Estate (2022)

The Estate is the kind of darkly fizzy family comedy that dares you to laugh at behavior you’d never excuse in real life, then wins you over with the sheer gusto of its cast. Toni Collette and Anna Faris make their sister act feel both affection-starved and hilariously shameless, while Kathleen Turner looms over the whole thing like a withering queen who refuses to be charmed on anyone’s schedule. Director Dean Craig keeps the mood brisk and deliciously nasty, letting the ensemble’s insults, schemes, and shifting alliances play like a dinner party where every toast is a threat. It’s proudly rude and very R-rated, so it’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy sharp-tongued, morally messy comedy powered by performers having a ball, this one is an easy yes.

The Estate is aiming for a glossy, darkly comic family free-for-all where greed brings out everyone’s worst instincts, and on paper it’s a perfect playground for Toni Collette and Anna Faris. The problem is the movie often settles for obvious setups and pushy, crude gags instead of sharper wit, so the chaos can feel more strained than genuinely funny. A lot of the characters are intentionally awful, but the script doesn’t always give that nastiness enough bite or cleverness to justify how unpleasant things get, which can leave you waiting for a punchline that never lands. If you like mean-ish, R-rated inheritance comedies and you’re mainly here for talented actors sniping at each other, you’ll get some enjoyment; if you need tight timing, surprising turns, or a warmer heart under the cynicism, this probably isn’t worth your time.