It’s good to be a British director at the moment- from Christopher Nolan reinventing Gotham to Danny Boyle’s bulging awards cabinet, it seems many Brit directors are making a splash overseas. The latest is Kirk Jones, director of ‘Nanny McPhee’ and now ‘Everybody’s Fine’, a remake of the 1990 Italian comedy/drama.

Having been recently widowed, Frank Goode (De Niro) comes to realise he has had no contact with his four children, other than through the conversation they had with his late wife. When all four cancel a family get together, Frank resolves to go cross country to see them all- his executive daughter Amy (Kate Beckinsale); the actress Rosie (Drew Barrymore); the concert musician Robert (Sam Rockwell) and his artist son David. He soon realises that his children have been keeping aspects of their lives secret from him, particularly the whereabouts of David.

Advertised as a Christmas film on its release in the US, Jones’ film is far more a look into the dynamics of a family and how sometimes love can make liars of all of us. Frank’s journey from thinking ‘everybody’s fine’ to realising the truth is entertaining, if at times predictable. It’s also to the credit of the writers and director that this wasn’t made into another De Niro family comedy, but a legitimate drama. Having said that, the script has its share of laughs and works to the strengths of all involved.

This is without question De Niro’s film, which is both the main selling point and biggest flaw of the film. He’s as superb as you know he can be, giving a tender, subtle performance of a man who maybe loved his family too much, you could have had the whole film revolve around him and a telephone and it would still be entertaining. The same sadly cannot be said for the ‘children’, presumably cast with the poster in mind. Rockwell is reliable as ever, but given too little time, whilst Beckinsale flounders when opposite a true acting great and Barrymore gives an absent, phoned in performance that makes her character the least interesting despite being given the most to do.

Despite being let down by his co-stars, De Niro carries the film and is the reason this movie is worth your time. It’s a little too sentimental at times, but may leave a legitimate lump in the throat come the climax. Not a classic, but an entertaining, low-key ‘dramedy’ with a lot more going for it than most.

Everybody's Fine is released on 26 February