Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
A man's affair with his friend's much-younger daughter throws two neighboring families into turmoil.
The Oranges is a suburban dark comedy that never quite commits to its edgier premise. The affair between a middle-aged man and his best friend's daughter has satirical potential that goes largely unrealized, resulting in a tonal muddle between uncomfortable drama and toothless comedy. The ensemble cast — including Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, and Adam Brody — elevates the material somewhat through capable performances, but the script keeps them trapped in underdeveloped character arcs. Visually it's competent but unremarkable suburban fare. The premise isn't particularly fresh within the dysfunctional-family comedy genre, and the resolution feels unsatisfying and abrupt rather than provocatively ambiguous.