In Ardmore, Pennsylvania a family lives through the realities of addiction. They struggle with their relationships, daily tasks, and the way in which they view one another–but their love for one another won’t let them give up on their collective journey toward recovery. Our American Family is an unapologetic look at the insanity that ensues when family members face addiction, and it tells the truth about all of the issues that it can cause. Furthermore, it proves that not all aspects of drug addiction can be overcome, no matter how hard people try–and it’s a saddening look at the growing reality among American families.
There are often a few different ways to look at individuals who struggle with substance abuse and/or addiction. The two most prominent ways to view it are that it’s either a disease that can be combated like other illnesses and that addiction is a choice made by the individual in question, not something to feel sorry for them about. Regardless of your opinion on this, Our American Family attempts to attack the ideas surrounding addiction head on, without hiding any part of the journey, and I genuinely appreciate that this crew wants to present viewers with the truth rather than some fabricated reality that we all know doesn’t exist. Our American Family’s honesty is the most important aspect of the entire documentary, however, as the doc dives deep into the issues of this family, some things rise to the surface that will certainly rub viewers the wrong way.
As the story of this family plays out, viewers come to see the family constantly making light of the severity of addiction (sometimes individually and sometimes collectively). Nicole, who, for all intents and purposes is the focus of this story, constantly makes jokes about her addiction and the rest of her family's struggles. It’s not an issue that she’s struggling or that she’s found a way to cope with her addiction–but it’s an issue that it appears to be glorified throughout the entirety of Our American Family by way of her comedy. It’s hard to look past this aspect of the film, or, even worse, to appreciate all that is being said as a result. The things that Nicole says about blaming others becomes the forefront of the documentary, and it begins to take away from the honesty aspect of the film.
It’s a little difficult to understand how seeing and hearing Nicole express herself honestly conflicts with the honesty of the documentary. While Our American Family initially attempts to make clear the issues that surround addiction, allowing her to present these ideas in such a way takes away from that in my opinion; it vilifies those that are on the outside looking in, and it makes excuses for those who have struggled with addiction (even those who have made the decision to engage in this sort of action). This aspect of Our American Family is off putting to me, and I’m not sure that it takes the film in the right direction, and when this part of the film was realized it struggled to ever regain its footing.
All in all it comes down to the honesty of Our American Family. It’s conflicting, passionate, full of vigor, and oddly uninviting. Our American Family is ultimately an hour and a half of yelling, screaming, and name calling–and it becomes too much to handle. It’s sort of wonderful that Directors Hallee Adelman and Sean King O’Grady are able to transport viewers to a place where they understand this family’s mindset (and that the family in question is able to be so transparent), but it becomes far too stressful for viewers to appreciate. The intent is there, but I’m not sure that viewers ever get exactly what Adelman and O'Grady want viewers to get out of the film.
Directed by Hallee Adelman & Sean King O’Grady.
Starring An American Family.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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