I don’t see why my interpretation makes me a cynic, though. What’s so cynical about going to insane lengths to get a girl to like you? (Though now we’re going into my autobiography here…)

Also, Terri, I don’t know if he really accepts Margaret as a girlfriend. I think to some extent she just proves herself as a worthy leading lady for his productions. And she does pull him out of his funk (”Dirk. Take dictation. Possible members of a kite flying club. Margaret Yang, …”

If I’m reading you correctly, and maybe I haven’t, then your view of the ending is more cynical than mine and I truly don’t want to see any cynicism in the ending. That moment between Max and Ms. Cross strikes me less as an “I told you so” moment engineered by Max, but rather as a moment where both characters silently recognize their mutual affection and attraction for one another while acknowledging the impossibility of ever conumating that attraction, physically or emotionally.

Thus, Max has his (in your words) Clockwork Orange “I was cured all right” moment while still preserving the forgiveness and acceptance I’ve come to expect in Anderson’s work.

I think this parallels the even more doomed romance of Richie and Margot Tenenbaum.

Margot: I think we’re just going to have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that, Richie.

They look at each other for a long minute. Richie nods. Margot turns away and goes out the tent.

On that note, I’m off to enjoy my birthday which I will celebrate by trying to be as non-analytical as possible.

I never meant to suggest that you were wrong with a capital W. I just prefer my reading. The film can support both views. Plus I don’t think I’m TOTALLY wrong about the film or Anderson’s films in general. I think certain aspects of the films just resonate more strongly with you than they do with me and vice-versa. One might as well argue that the grey-blues are more important than the blue-greys in one of Picasso’s Blue Period paintings. Besides, I should know better than to argue with such a world-class contrarion.

I may have come across as too harsh on Max. It’s not that he’s without good qualities and he still has his whole future ahead of him. I’m just glad that he stopped trying so hard to be someone he’s not. I’m sure that we can both agree that by the end Max is more confident and comfortable with who he is.

Royal does change. True, his first instinct is to rely on his old methods of lying and manipulation but by the end he comes to realize how much he genuinely loves and needs his family. He acknowledges his mistakes, he takes the kids to the graveyard, he gives Ari and Uzi a chance to experience some of the simple pleasures of a carefree childhood, he finally treats Margot like a daughter, he makes peace with Henry and finally grants Ethel a divorce so that she can marry the man she loves but not before thanking her for raising their children. He doesn’t become or even claim to be an altogether new man, just a better one. I suppose the same could be said for Anderson’s other protagonists.

Royal: I’ve always been considered an asshole for about as long as I can remember. That’s just my style. But I’d really feel blue if I didn’t think you were going to forgive me.
Henry Sherman: I don’t think you’re an asshole, Royal. I just think you’re kind of a son of a bitch.
Royal: Well, I really appreciate that.

Oh, and the video is “no longer available” according to YouTube.

Oedipus as staged by Wes Anderson: Oedipus finds out the truth about himself, but decides he’s OK with it, stays married to his mother, convinces the city that it’s OK. “Spill the Wine” by War is playing as the end credits go up, while we see scenes of their big anniversary party.

Ez, your last big paragraph is right on. In the end, it’s not about all the details you two have fussed over. It’s about the crazy wonderfulness of life, which is a messy, weird, changing, very funny thing. And it’s the musings and mostly the fantasies of a crazy smart kid who grew up and got people to like him and climb aboard his careening party ship. Quit deconstructing the ship and just climb aboard.