Cyrus

As a fan of the Duplass brothers’ films, including The Puffy Chair and Baghead, I was really looking forward to seeing this film. It was really just what I expected, which was a mumblecore aesthetic mixed with dramatic performances from Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly.

The plot is simple and straigt-forward. Reilly is a divorced man who meets Molly (Marisa Tomei) and then soon bumps heads with Molly’s son, Cyrus (Jonah Hill).

I like when Reilly does his sincere loser act, like in Boogie Nights and Magnolia. It’s nice to see Reilly take a break from the zany Ferrell-partnership and Steve Brule roles. More surprising than Reilly’s decent acting in this film is Hill’s acting, which showed what Hill is really capable of.

This is a movie that people are either going to love, hate or just go “meh,” and I suppose that’s how it is with any film. Critics and viewers alike may or may not accept the zooming and shaky camera work that is supposed to serve a purpose for adding emotional depth, but can also be overwhelming.

Also, this isn’t a Step Brothers comedy, so people may see who is in the film and then be extremely disappointed. It’s more of a drama than anything, but there’s some really compelling and genuine scenes – something the Duplass brothers are keen on. I don’t think it’s a typical indie comedy; it’s an honet mumblecore film with well-known actors.

8/10