Paul Rudd has gained the respect of frat boys and seasoned film critics alike. From his "Clueless" days to "I Love You, Man" and every horror franchise in between, his career has certainly run the gamut. Yet I'm not sure how his newest role in "Our Idiot Brother" will sit with most Rudd fans.
To start, the plot behind "Our Idiot Brother" is about as simple as the name insinuates. Rudd plays Ned, a haplessly incompetent yet well-meaning stoner who lands himself in some trouble after selling weed to a uniformed officer. Upon being released from prison, he relies on the goodwill of his mother and three sisters (and their various loved ones) for shelter and support. Of course, Ned accidentally ruins the lives of everyone around him due to his complete lack of common sense, but the family soon realizes that they, in fact, need Ned more than he needs them.
The film is an incredibly witty and understated comedy with a whole lot of heart behind it. Being immersed in the underground world of health food myself, it was a treat to see a send-up of hippies and the whole "going green" movement. The gags about acai berries and aromatherapy particularly had me rolling. Yet, the movie plays out in a very subtle way which totally took me off guard. If you're looking for a knee-slapper akin to Judd Apatow's films, you'll be sorely disappointed. "Our Idiot Brother" is more gushy than it is gut-busting.
Ned's unique take on real-world situations is the main source of humor in the film (e.g., venting to his parole officer as if it were his own personal therapist). Ned's naivete is what ultimately leads to a series of misfortunes, for his sisters in particular, that land with a domino effect. Speaking of which, his sisters are undoubtedly the anchor of the film. For every comedic force, there exists a "straight man" to level out the dynamic. Of course, said roles are filled primarily by Ned's sisters, the casting of which are phenomenal. The youngest sister, Natalie, played by Zooey Deschanel, is the most understanding of the bunch, while the two oldest sisters, Liz and Janet, have seemingly lost all patience with Ned. Rashida Jones of "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" fame rounds out the cast in the role of Natalie's lover.
"Our Idiot Brother" is essentially a part of what I like to call the "man-child" subgenre of comedy, only instead of being reduced to the lowest common denominator in terms of gags, it remains a smart film centered around a dumb lead. It has the look and feel of an indie comedy with the acting chops of a big-budget movie. However, I feel as if the film traded in a lot of its potential humor for a more heartwarming appeal. The really funny jokes are few and far between in this, but I walked away enjoying the film for what it was — a subtle family-friendly comedy.