These Quotes Go to ElevenThe greatest, funniest, and most iconic movie and TV quotes from your all-time favorite comedies (and a few you probably haven’t seen).
"The Family" movie quotes tell the story of one former mafia family who struggles to stay under cover in witness protection. The comedy film was written by Luc Besson, Michael Caleo and Tonino Benacquista, the latter of whom wrote the book, "Malavita," on which the film is based. Besson also served as director or the film, which lists Martin Scorsese as an executive producer. "The Family" was released on September 13, 2013.
In "The Family," Giovanni Manzoni (Robert De Niro) is the patriarch in a family comfortably in the mafia, until he decides to turn on that family and snitch. To keep him and his family safe, they are all relocated to France as part of the witness protection program. The family takes the name of the Blakes, with Fred, the father, Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer), the mother, Belle (Dianna Agron) the daughter, and Warren (John D'Leo), the son.
It doesn't take long for the family to become bored with their surroundings and new lifestyle. They soon fall back into old ways, including offing those who cross them, even slightly. These happenings blow their cover, alerting the mob to their location. This is bad news for the Blakes, along with Tom Quintiliani (Tommy Lee Jones), the CIA agent assigned to the family, as all try to remain safe when the mafia comes for revenge.
Belle Blake: "What are you guys doing?" Classmate: "It is just five minutes to get to know each other better." Belle Blake: "Hey boys, if this is your approach to women, you're not going to get very far."
Showing that she hasn't fallen far from the tree, Belle gets in on the action by taking no crap from a young French boy. He tries to make a move on her and she swiftly responds by using a racquet as a weapon.
Fred Blake: "There was a time when I had it all. People would ask me, what was it like being untouchable? The question they really should have asked was, what happens when it's all over?"
Fred Blake, aka Giovanni Manzoni, gives an overview of the plot. He was at once time a mafia boss living large. That all changed when he snitched on the mob and was forced to deal with the consequences of that decision.
School Administrator: "Let's talk about the complaints I have received." Warren Blake: "Complaints?" School Administrator: "Corruption, theft, bribery…" Warren Blake: "I want to see my lawyer."
After only a short time at his new French school, Warren is already in trouble for going back to his mafia ways. He's called to answer to some complaints the school administrators have received but soon asks for legal council. Smart kid.
Fred Blake: "You all right?"Maggie Blake: "Nothing much, just the prospect of packing up again and moving once they find out you killed the plumber." Fred Blake: "I didn't kill him. I took him to the hospital." Maggie Blake: "Why'd you beat him to a pulp? He's the only plumber within a radius of 20 miles." Fred Blake: "But he disrespected us and he made you wait on him, honey."Maggie Blake: "Geez, honey, I survived." Fred Blake: "And the guy was trying to rip me off so put yourself in my shoes." Maggie Blake: "I definitely wouldn't have beat him up. I mean, who's going to fix the pipes now?" Fred Blake: "Who's going to rebuild the supermarket that burned down the first day we got here? Huh?"
It's clear that they can take the mobsters out of mob but they can't take the mob out of the mobsters, as shown in this scene when both Maggie and Fred react to being disrespected in very extreme ways.
Maggie Blake: "Beurre d'arachide… Peanut butter" Store Clerk: "On the right, after the dog food" Maggie Blake: "Merci" Store Clerk: "Stupid Americans"
Maggie is polite and attempts to fit in with the French locals, including asking in French where she can find peanut butter. When the store clerk makes a snide remark, however, she reverts to her old ways and blows up the store.
Maggie Blake: "We're not in Brooklyn anymore." Fred Blake: "I don't think there is anywhere further than Brooklyn than this rat hole." Belle Blake: "I'm sick of being in witness protection."
It doesn't take long for the Blake family to get bored with their new surroundings. They're definitely not in Brooklyn anymore.
