Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz
“THE OATH” My rating: B
93 minutes | MPAA rating: R
One of the America’s most hellish rituals — the family Thanksgiving gathering — takes on even more demonic dimensions in Ike Barinholtz’s “The Oath.”
Barinholtz, a familiar face whose name you never knew, does triple duty here, serving as writer, director and star, combining the usual holiday dysfunction with torn-from-the-headlines politics. The resulting black comedy is like finding a hand grenade in the roasted turkey.
As the film begins we learn that the U.S. president has instituted something called “the Patriot’s Oath,” a sort of loyalty waiver citizens are expected to sign.
“Nothing happens if you don’t sign,” assures a White House spokeswoman. “But there are perks if you do.”
The news infuriates suburban couple Chris (Barinholtz) and Kai (Tiffany Haddish). Theirs is a mixed-race marriage, and as one might deduce, they are fiercely liberal.
Especially Chris, who is one of those apoplectic lefties who invariably takes a confrontational and self-righteous approach to political matters.
The citizenry has a year to decide if they will sign; the new law goes into effect on (appropriately) Black Friday, a day after Thanksgiving.
Chris and Kai’s family gathering is like a cross section of the voting public. Chris’ brother (Jon Barinholtz, the writer/director’s brother) is a sort of perennial frat dude whose new girlfriend (Meredith Hagnar) has a world view cloned from Ann Coulter.
Chris’ sister (Carrie Brownstein) is a fellow liberal, as is her hubby (Jay Duplass), who has come down with an intestinal monster and spends most of the holiday curled in a ball.
Mom (Nora Dunn) tries to referee the mounting sibling turmoil (“Hey, no politics!”); Dad (Chris Ellis) keeps as low a profile as possible.
Prays Chris: “God, who I don’t believe in, please give me strength to get through the next three days.”
Butler's Cinema Scene 