BY MIKEY MIGO
I remember hearing about this movie like a million years ago when it was first getting screened and showing up on the festival circuit. I’ve wanted to see it since then. The casting of John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, and Marisa Tomei just sounded like a lot of fun. All three seem like really cool people and I’d imagine would get a really cool chemistry going on set. This Duplass brother movie had an outline, but the dialogue was completely improvised. In 99.99% of instances like this, it would not turn out well. The movie follows John C. Reilly’s character, who is divorced but still friends with his ex. She gets him to go out and meet people and he meets Marisa Tomei. They instantly kick if off, but at home is her too close for comfort son, “Cyrus” played by Jonah Hill. Cyrus doesn’t want the dude to hook up with his mom and interfere in their creepy tight relationship. I enjoyed the movie, but not as much as I was hoping. It’s well done, but it just didn’t sit right. At times it felt like a warped version of Step Brothers… except minus a brother. It had the same vibe, but just a tad more vile. The plot feels like I’ve seen it before, maybe even on a sitcom. It’s not sitcom-cheesy or anything, but the plot devices are a tad run of the mill. Thankfully it doesn’t rest its laurels on that. From my perspective, it seems more of a character and “human nature” movie than a plot device-type gag flick. There’s nothing wrong with that. Most of my favorite movies are “human nature” indie-type movies. Sadly, I’m not big on the camera work. I love indie films and the gritty-jerkiness of the camera, but the constant tap-zooms almost seemed like a gimmick after awhile and felt like the only trick in their bag. If they these zooms weren’t there I’d have nothing bad to say about how the film looked. It’s not so much “indie”, but a “perception of what IS indie”… if that makes sense. Enough of that though. I did like this movie. The assumed chemistry of the cast was there. Reilly, Hill, Tomei , and the awesome Catherine Keener were fun and interesting at all the right levels. To me, Jonah Hill shines here. He’s his normal smart ass over the top self at times, but this is easily his best dramatic acting. There are points he has to freak out, cry, and show a wide range of emotion. He does it and does it well. I’d watch this movie again down the road. I liked it and enjoyed it enough for at least that much. Of the Apatow guys going out and making their “dark indie” movies, I have to say it’s not as good as Seth Rogen’s “Observe and Report”, but it’s just about on par with Michael Cera’s “Youth In Revolt”. I enjoyed that movie too. If you’re a fan of anyone in the movie and/or indie dramadies then this is for you. B-
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