The "F" word and others? Check. Nudity? Check. Sex between women? Check. Sex between a man and woman? Check. Sex between 3 people? Check. A woman sitting on a commode urinating? Check. The lead hit in the crotch? Check. An "R" rating? Check. Another summer raunchy comedy? NO!
"Our
Idiot Brother" has all the above plus Paul Rudd, playing the title
role, helping to make this an easy to watch film about a dysfunctional
family. Rudd brings a sweetness to the character and the film that makes
everyone in the family seem real. The jokes come more from the actors
than the script and they aren't punch lines but part of life that we can
identify with if not the characters.
Ned
(Paul Rudd) comes out of prison after 8 months to find his girlfriend
of 3 years, (Kathryn Hahn) living with another man, (T. J. Miller) and
kicking him off the home they had shared for 3 years and not allowing him
to take his dog, Willie Nelson. You are not suppose to like Hahn and I
don't know if it was the acting, the character or Hahn but I
didn't--like her, that is.
Ned
stays with his mother (Shirley Knight) and, I don't quite understand
why he didn't stay there, with each of his sisters for a week or as long
as they can stand him. First is Liz (Emily Mortimer) married to a
cheating filmmaker husband (Steve Coogan) followed by single, ambitious, writer to be sister Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) and the third sister Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) who cheats on her girlfriend Cindy (Rashida Jones.) He messes up his sisters already very messed up lives but
'idiot' or not he is pure of heart, doesn't knowingly hurt anyone and is
smart enough to show each of them how to better their lives.
The
film is diected by Jesse Peretz with a screenplay by Evgenia Peretz and
David Schisgall with photography of New Yorkk city by Yaron Orbach. The
soundtrack consists of a lot of standards with Willie Nelson front and
forward.
The movie is 90 minutes and moves smoothly with only a minor complaint is that the 3 sisters seem so interchangeable
that it is hard at times of keeping track of them. Aside from all the R
rated 'musts' the film is a sweet one and Paul Rudd really sells his
role effortlessly.
By the
way if you want to know what kind of film this is Willie Nelson marries
Dolly Parton and if that brings a smile to your face so will this movie!