Our Idiot Brother
2.5/5
Our Idiot Brother stars Paul Rudd as Ned, an optimistic hippie whose naivety gets him and his loved ones into trouble. When a stint in prison for selling pot to a uniformed cop costs him his girlfriend, job, home, and dog, he turns to his sisters (Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, and Emily Mortimer) for help.
The ensemble cast of seasoned comedic performers is impressive considering the modest $5 million budget. Unfortunately, the characters spend most of their time doing little more than advancing the predictable plot. While few of the characters are particularly original, most of them are likeable, and all of them are believable.
The humour, which ranges from subtle to hilarious, never comes at the expense of realism. On the other hand, the film doesn’t explore deep human emotions and uncomfortable situations for comedic effect. Keeping the drama and comedy separate is a safe choice, but it may be too safe.
Despite featuring a lesbian couple, plenty of infidelity, and three counts of male nudity, Our Idiot Brother is a film that rarely takes risks.
With its cliché message, predictable plot and crisp production values, this film feels more like a major studio production than the indie effort it is. This movie is familiar, comfortable, and funny, but if you want originality, look elsewhere.