'American Fiction (2023)' mixes sharp satire with naturalistic family drama, contrasting the two aspects to make its point. Although its plot seems somewhat ambling to begin with, it soon becomes apparent that this isn't really a so-called concept piece and that the tapestry of interpersonal dynamics it has been weaving since its opening moments are intended to be the bulk of its content. Its satirical absurdism doesn't envelop the entire story, instead coming forwards when it needs to and then retreating when the protagonist's non-working life once again starts to weigh down on him. This ebb and flow actually gives a rather realistic impression of how something ongoing impacts your life, as most events - even major ones - simply can't take over your entire existence and instead pile atop the various other things that comprise your day-to-day. We're all juggling more than movies usually depict us to be, and it's nice to see something that attempts to capture that reality. It's also nice to see something that's just as outright funny as this is. Although it has a bit of a shaky start comedically speaking, it eventually becomes a really fun and often rib-tickling time that has you chuckling in your seat on many occasions. It never loses sight of its heart, either, so it always feels like it's saying something - even when it's purposefully saying nothing at all. On top of that, the family drama is often quite affecting, compounding by fantastic performances from all involved (especially Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown and Tracee Ellis Ross). It's a really entertaining and well-rounded experience that may sometimes feel a little unfocused but also seems to be that way on purpose.