In the middle for them

The Coen brothers set a high standard and this falls just a bit short in my view. It is very Jewish which does not matter but because it is so autobiographical it is a strange mix of humour and graveness with the seriousness almost winning out. I came to it with great anticipation of laughing till I dropped as I have with their other films but in fact it is not so funny, some of it a bit cliche ridden. On the plus side it is very watchable, stays with you and has some nice touches, including a very well played central character which holds it together. So get it and enjoy it but not in the same league as some of their other films in my view despite being such fertile territory for them.