If there’s anyone who can make George Clooney seem like a defeated husband, distant dad, and an overall failure, then it’s Alexander Payne. The Descendants, Payne’s first film since Sideways in 2004, is a bittersweet comedy about a family in mourning that is perceptive, poignant and well worth the wait.

Honolulu lawyer Matt King (George Clooney) might live in paradise, but his life is anything but idyllic. As the head of a high-profile Hawaiian family, Matt is struggling with two life-altering decisions: the potentially lucrative sale of a prime parcel of land, and the impending death of his wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), who lies in an irreversible coma after a boating accident. When rebellious eldest daughter Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) returns from boarding school, she comes bearing another shock – that her mum had been having an affair. Determined to do the right thing, Matt takes his two daughters on a journey around the islands, spreading the word about Elizabeth’s terminal condition to friends and relatives while trying to solve the mystery of her illicit lover.

Payne has a talent for tackling the darker challenges of ordinary life head on. His characters are often flawed, but they are, in their own ordinary way, heroic. Not many other directors could tackle big issues like death, adultery and Alzheimer’s and still let you leave the cinema feeling positive about being alive.Welcome back, Mr. Payne.