Cyrus – Review

According to that guy Webster:

Awkward: adjective (comparative awkwarder or more awkward, superlative awkwardest or most awkward)

1. Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments

(archaic) John was awkward at performing the trick. He’ll have to practice to improve.

2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing

That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.

3. Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction

I’m very awkward at parties.

4. Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle

He’s a right awkward chap.

Or, see Cyrus.

The new Jay and Mark Duplass comedy, Cyrus, is easily their most accessible film, a combination of their so-called “mumblecore” tendencies, mixed with some mainstream appeal that is aided by the actors. It’s very funny, mostly do to the subtle performances that are nervously stuck in these odd situations, but the script isn’t just aiming at jokes. In fact it’s a smart movie about starting over. Something that is hard to do, especially for John (John C. Reilly) and Molly (Marisa Tomei), characters unable to comprehend the dating scene after years away from it. The characters might be in their 40s but they act as if they’re 16 all over again, with stuttering quips, nervous laughter, and defeated sense of ego.

John is smitten with Molly. One of the hardest things to do when you get back into the dating scene is how to get the ball rolling again. Where to go? What to say? John seems just as lost as a shy teen reluctantly going to a party against their better judgment, but Molly sees through his pain and hesitation. While she seems rather open and out going, we will soon learn she has things hidden. Namely her 22 year old goiter of a son, Cyrus (Jonah Hill).  Suffering from a huge Oedipus Complex, he will do everything to make sure John doesn’t get with his mom. At first, he is seemingly sweet, but you can read in between the lines, when he says: Please don’t f*ck my mom.

Cyrus is great; it fits nicely into the comedy styles we’ve seen Reilly and Hill in, yet the “mumblecore” style doesn’t clash with it. It certainly amps up the awkwardness, though, as I think the director’s style can feels odd with what is typically expected from comedies. If John is put into plenty of awkward situations, all beautifully played in a subtle fashion by an underrated Reilly, we too, as the audience, feel equally as awkward as him. Good. As funny as the film is, it’s a clever approach to dating and family life. Each character has issues of letting go and of acceptance. But only when they act like reasonable adults, does anything get solved. We might never grow up in the dating scene, but those who don’t grow up in life, have a lot of catching up to do.

Rating:

For another take on the film, we covered it at SXSW 2010 here.