DADDY AND THEM (2001)

 

Daddy and Them is a 2001 American comedy-drama film written, directed by, and starring Billy Bob Thornton. In addition to Thornton, it stars John Prine, Laura Dern, Andy Griffith, Ben Affleck, Kelly Preston, Diane Ladd, Brenda Blethyn, Tuesday Knight, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jim Varney in his final on screen film appearance before his death in February 2000.

The original plan was to release the film in theaters, but the film got only limited distribution as Miramax found the film not "commercial" enough. Daddy and Them opened to positive reviews, with many critics praising the film's southern humor, Thornton's work as a writer/director, and the performances of the entire cast. It holds an 86% rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.

 

 Ruby and Claude Montgomery are a very insecure and jealous couple, who must help when Claude's Uncle Hazel is jailed for attempted murder. The Arkansas family reunites as they travel with Ruby's older sister Rose, with whom Claude had a previous relationship, and Ruby and Rose's mother Jewel, who continuously talks about Rose and Claude's past relationship, which irritates Ruby.