The Royal Tenenbaums is a sometimes fun, sometimes sad, thought provoking movie with eccentric characters.  The movie centered around the Tenenbaum family, the father of which was Royal Tenenbaum.  Royal was completely self-centered, insensitive to his children, and an all-around bad father.   Royal did not realize, and probably would not have cared anyway, that the way Royal treated the kids would negatively affect them for many years to come.  At one point, Royal went to prison and was estranged from the family, but the psychological damage done to the children lasted.  After the children grew up and Royal realized the mess he had made, he looked to reconnect with the kids to make amends.  At times the movie was sad because the characters were so messed up that they did not even know how messed up they really were. What made the movie even more sad, was that the characters were so likeable. You were rooting for them to overcome their past and succeed.  Royal had limited success undoing the damage he had caused, but he did manage to get back into the lives of the children.  Royal secured himself a second chance at doing the right thing.  This is a gift we could all appreciate.  The movie made me think about my life and reflect on the choices I have made.  It also made me think about how one life can have a significant effect on the lives of others.  The Royal Tenenbaums really made me feel, think, and reflect.  I appreciate that in a movie.