Anchored by some strong performances, this film makes you laugh and makes you care about its people. The main character Peter returns home after his father's sudden death, and he ends up taking care of his uncle that he had forgotten all about. Because of his uncle, he meets Melanie, a single mom in the same apartment building. These new experiences for Peter, involving himself in people's lives, leads him to discover real emotions for the first time. This discovery comes as his uncle decides to stop treatment for his disease and accept his impending death. Peter now has to choose whether to stay in their lives or go back to his solitary ways. As the film unfolds, you understand what has led Peter to this isolated life, and you come to care for him and root for him to find happiness.

I enjoyed Family Obligations. Its story is quite simple but heartfelt. The same can be said of the performances.

As with most low budget features, there are some technical issues which detract from the viewing experience slightly - namely some off audio and a couple of missteps with camera. Another (very understandable) issue is the lack of locations, which preclude us from seeing the male lead at home and help to tell his story.

A couple of scenes were quite long where they could have been made zippier for the same result. In particular the restaurant and the park scene that follows.

None of this takes away from the story, and I actually enjoyed the interaction from the two leads. I was expecting some photographs to be 'Chekov's Gunned' in there, but it was just a distraction.

This film looks at the pain of missed opportunities and the hope of second chances in family relationships. It also contains some genuinely funny moments and honest laughs, which is a credit to the writing and acting. If you ever wish you were closer with your family or feel like you've grown apart, this film will speak to you.