I thought it was a deep social commentary. I wasn’t quite able to figure out what it’s comment was, though.
I enjoyed it greatly, and I felt that, more than with any other movie I’ve seen, I left thinking.
WHERE’S THE LOVE FOR BOTTLE ROCKET?!
I loved Tenenbaums. It made me a Wes Anderson fan, and prompted me to immediately ingest Rushmore and Bottle Rocket, his previous works (which I also loved, especially Bottle Rocket). Every actor in TRT did a fantastic job. You just don’t see good ensemble movies too often where no character’s importance or impact overshadows any other character’s. I feel bad for all of ye who didn’t enjoy Tenenbaums. You missed out on something wonderful.
Boy, did I HATE Rushmore the first time I saw it… with a passion, even. I told all my good friends to stay away and definitely not to pay any amount of money to ever see it.
Then I saw it a second time, and I completely rescinded everything I’ve ever said bad about it. The movie is awesome. Perhaps it was six-months movie maturity speaking out the second time, but I still adhere to this day that all the critics who did, indeed, put it on their top-10 lists should be lauded (at least this once).
The Royal Tenenbaums, however, struck me as being completely awesome right from the beginning. I’m positive it was more the originality of the script coupled with the amazing direction and editing that elevated the movie beyond its decent, though not incredibly noteworthy, acting than any other part of the production.
The scene where Gene Hackman tells Anjelica Huston on the street that he is going to die, and the subsequent pan over the sidewalk as Huston walks away before returning to Hackman is brilliantly shot (granted, it’s just one of many). But I would highly recommend going out and renting that movie just for that scene and its artistry. Yeah, it’s just my opinion, but it’s not a bad one to me… 
Like the paintings in Owen Wilson’s character’s apartment, this movie was a masterpiece.
(Though still not as good as Rushmore, which should have at least been nominated for an Oscar.)
(Bottle Rocket ranks third. Still excellent.)
If it’s social commentary but you can’t understand the comment, I think the message is “the Emperor wears no clothes.”
I should weigh in on the pro-Royal Tenenbaums side. I enjoyed it.
For the record, I liked all the Wes Anderson movies, especially Rushmore. I hated Joe Vs. the Volcano and As Good as it Gets. I never saw There’s Something About Mary.