Sammy Prescott (Laura Linney) lives a nice orderly life. She lives with her son in the small community where she has always lived and works in the local bank. She attends church, behaves respectably, and even has a nice dependable boyfriend. Then, out of the blue, she receives a letter from her brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo), who she rarely sees, announcing his impending arrival which will lead to an upheaval of everything she is used to.

Kenneth Lonergan makes his directorial debut with this sensitive film, adapted from his own play. A quiet, gentle affair, "You Can Count on Me" covers the emotional gamut as run by all family members and does so with an intense honesty. All the performances are excellent, with the sibling relationship in particular portrayed with poignancy and style by the Oscar-nominated Linney and Ruffalo.

This is one of those films where not much seems to happen apart from the passing of time, which makes for surprisingly enjoyable viewing. While in some cases this can fail to be memorable or pleasant, here it is a warming, worthwhile experience as the characters endear themselves to you with their unfailing humanity and fallibility. Humorous, gentle, and completely charming, this is a film that truly captures what family is about.