Keeping Up with the Steins begins as gleeful satire, centering on a super-affluent Jewish family in Los Angeles determined to throw the quintessential bar mitzvah bash. It winds up something else entirely -- a warm and fuzzy after-school special with more heart than chutzpah.

That isn't necessary a criticism. In the interest of full disclosure, your humble reviewer, who is Jewish, vividly remembers the agony of being 13 years old, awkward and expected to read flawless Hebrew in front of a temple packed with unknown relatives and snickering classmates. In other words, I'm probably an ideal viewer for this movie. And as family-oriented fare goes, Keeping Up with the Steins deserves credit for treating its younger viewers with respect.

Benjamin Fiedler (Daryl Sabara) is on the cusp of his bar mitzvah, but he has the misfortune of following the obscenely lavish bar mitzvah of Zach Stein (Carter Jenkins). It's a tough act to follow, as the Steins (Larry Miller and Sandra Taylor) rented an ocean liner for a Titanic-themed party replete with giant icebergs. "I am the king of the torah!" yells a jubilant Zach while flanked by mermaids. Benjamin would prefer a more low-key affair -- especially since he is still struggling with mastering Hebrew -- but his show-business agent father, Adam (Jeremy Piven -- who else?), is intent on outdoing the Steins. Subsequently, Dad has secured Dodger Stadium for a bar mitzvah shindig that will feature Neil Diamond singing the national anthem.

It all has potential for sharp-edged humor, and -- for a good while -- director Scott Marshall and writer Mark Zakarin hit the bullseye. Adam and wife Joanne (Jami Gertz) inadvertently make Benjamin a pawn in the one-upmanship of Brentwood's rich and famous. The Fiedlers' media-savvy rabbi (Richard Benjamin) is more interested in hawking his book on "The O'Reilly Factor" than in counseling the bar mitzvah candidates, while Adam hires a video-music director to shoot a no-holds-barred documentary of his son's life.

But then Keeping Up with the Steins misjudges its strong suit by veering into more sentimental territory. Benjamin secretly invites Adam's estranged father, Irwin (Gary Marshall, the director's real-life dad), for the bar mitzvah two weeks early. Irwin, a free-spirited eccentric who long ago abandoned his family, turns up with his hippie girlfriend (Daryl Hannah) in a beat-up RV.

The storyline settles into the rhythms of predictability. Keeping Up with the Steins delves into father-son dynamics – Irwin and Adam, Adam and Benjamin – without scratching past the surface. All the while, the kooky grandfather imparts the requisite amount of life lessons.

If the movie ultimately fails to match its promising first half-hour, it is still too good-natured to disregard. Featuring a uniformly game cast and some stinging observations of the nouveau riche, Keeping Up with the Steins proves to be a real mench.

The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen is presentable, if unremarkable. The picture quality is compromised somewhat by washed-out colors and an overall softness of image. Otherwise, there are no noticeable distractions.

Like the picture quality, the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is serviceable for a film driven by its dialogue. In addition to a Spanish audio track, subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish.

The DVD boasts two commentary tracks. In the first, director Scott Marshall and father Gary offer a meandering, but cozy, rapport. Some of the asides by Gary Marshall, who has directed his share of well-known films, are of interest, such as his admission of a continuity mistake in Pretty Woman.

A much more informative commentary comes courtesy of Scott Marshall and writer/producer, Mark Zakarin. The writer is especially appealing; it is apparent his script contains a sizable chunk of biographical material.

Six deleted scenes clock in for a combined 7 minutes, 46 seconds. They all include optional commentary by Scott Marshall and Zakarin.

In addition, there are sneak peeks of Scrubs: The Complete Fourth Season, Alias: The Complete Fifth and Final Season, Desperate Housewives: Season 2 -- The Extra Juicy Edition, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, SC3: The Escape Clause, Kinky Boots and The Heart of the Game.

A sweet-natured film buoyed by satirical flourishes, Keeping Up with the Steins is engaging family-friendly cinema. Mazel tov!