Our Idiot Brother (2011)

I will admit that my hopes were quite high for this flick. No pun intended. Like most, Paul Rudd is a favorite comedic actor of mine. As I expected, he did a splendid job with this flick. The supporting cast also seemed to be quite good. Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, and Zooey Deschanel played the three sisters of Rudd's character. Hence the title of the movie.

The story starts out with one idiotic move by Ned, portrayed by Paul Rudd. Ned is a biodynamic farmer and happens to be selling his crops at a local market. A police officer approaches him and asks for some "green." After Ned insists that he takes the marijuana for free, he is arrested.

The character development in this movie was probably my favorite part. Although frustrating at times, all the characters had that little something about them that was genuine and unique. In addition to learning a lot about Ned (like how he doesn't cheat or lie and trusts others too much), we also witness quite a bit from his sisters too. I really think if we saw the sisters together more often, then I'd laugh a bit more. Although Our Idiot Brother was funny at times, it wasn't the comedy film I was hoping for. I really thought that I'd be laughing more. Perhaps another viewing at another time will perspire such laughter, but I digress.

As alluded to earlier, Ned has three sisters. Miranda (Elizabeth Banks), Liz (Emily Mortimer), and Natalie (Zoeey Deschanel). After he's out of jail, Ned tries to live with his mom (Shirley Knight), but that doesn't work out so he looks to his three sisters.

From there the plot begins to unfold. It's hard to discuss it without giving away spoilers. You'll just have to see for yourself.

Also, Adam Scott, Steve Coogan, and Rashida Jones all have an active role in the film. Very fun.

It's also worth noting that part of the filming took place at the historic Hotel Chelsea. I've only been to New York City once and that's the place I stayed. This film really gave me the urge to want to be back in NYC!

Although not the movie that I wanted, it was pleasantly likable and worth a watch.

7/10 Stars.

Fmovies: Jesse Peretz's 'Our Idiot Brother' is a decent watch, but what stands tall in this film, is, without a shed of doubt, Paul Rudd's lovable performance in the central role. The actor has never been so convincing before!

'Our Idiot Brother' tells the story of an idealistic man who intrudes and wreaks havoc in each of his three sisters' lives.

The film begins well, dips in the middle, but luckily, culminates properly. As said, it's a decent watch, that never really bores or loses it's pace. Evgenia Peretz & David Schisgall's Screenplay is good, but it could've been better, especially post 40-minutes. Jesse Peretz Directs this comedy-drama, ably. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are fair.

Performance-Wise: Paul Rudd delivers his careers most lovable/convincing performance in here. He literally owns the film. As his sisters, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer & Zooey Deschanel, are first-rate. Kathryn Hahn is perfect. Rashida Jones is passable. Steve Coogan is as usual. Others lend support.

On the whole, 'Our Idiot Brother' is a time-pass fare. A must watch for Rudd fanatics.

What a wonderful movie. Paul Rudd is terrific. He is truly the star. His performance is outstanding. The idiot is not Paul's character, Ned. He is a good-natured person who is willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Rather, the idiots are his three pretentious sisters who treat Ned like a child, misinterpreting his honesty for immaturity. Ned maintains his integrity, which is in sharp contrast to the phoniness that he encounters in others. Misunderstandings occur as Ned forces his sisters to confront their own lies. Ned is perceived as the family problem when in fact he is the solution, except no one knows it, at first. Several scenes are amusing as Ned's good nature and candid outlook produces some awkward situations. This movie succeeds because it tells a story, does so with humor, and keeps the audience engaged.

Our Idiot Brother fmovies. A hilarious movie written for Paul Rudd: what more could we want?

Rudd plays Ned, a stoner who has frizzled his neurons to the point that he has lost any ability to detect or dish out B.S. The poster child for what it means to be ingenuous, Ned is a trusting, playful, adorable stray puppy who isn't quite housebroken. So you-know-what hits the fan when his three sisters serially take him in after his release from jail. He's nothing but tsuris. It's no wonder that his most enduring relationship is with his dog, Willie Nelson.

Thanks to Rudd's everyman persona and the genial obliviousness he brings to Ned, you can't help but feel empathy. As with a suspense film where the audience knows what's going to happen but the characters are still in the dark, you want to yell out to warn Ned before he screws up again. His perfect comic timing and the made-to-order script make sure you get the most laughs from his predicament. Luckily, there's more to him than just bad luck. He's also an endearing white angel on the shoulders of his sisters, helping them fight their devils as he becomes an unwitting catalyst for change.

The movie's impressively talented and good-looking cast includes Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, and Elizabeth Banks (looking a lot like Parker Posey) as sisters. What's more, Rashinda Jones and Hugh Dancy add to the already high eye-candy quotient. Steve Coogan plays Ned's deliciously distasteful brother-in-law in his inimitable unpleasant-guy way.

The film is smartly directed by Jesse Peretz from a story he developed with his sister, Evgenia Peretz. I saw this at the Sundance screening in Brookline, Massachusetts, where director Peretz said they wrote it for Rudd, whom he clearly enjoys working with, and who wouldn't? Even though they stuck to the script, Rudd improvised at least two of the movie's funniest bits.

A fun ride throughout, the film only has a couple of weak spots. One scene has Ned comfortably telling a white lie, something so out of character it was jolting to the point of distraction. The ending could use some reshaping, and perhaps it might get some before general release. But even as is, this movie is about as charming and hilarious as Rudd can be, which is quite sizable.

'OUR IDIOT BROTHER': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

This sweet hearted indie comedy doesn't have a bad bone in it's body. It's the type of film that can really inspire people to want to do good just by relating to their most simple good sided human nature. Paul Rudd stars in the film, in his most likable role to date as well as one of the most lovable comical heroes to come along in a while. The film was directed by Jesse Peretz, who also directed the Zach Braff/Jason Bateman 2007 dark comedy film 'THE EX'. (This film is definitely a change in tone from that one). The story was conceived by Jesse and his sister Evgenia and the screenplay was written by Evgenia and her husband David Schisgall. They wrote the film with their buddy Rudd in mind for the lead. Frequent Rudd co-stars Elizabeth Banks and Rashida Jones co-star in the film as well as Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Adam Scott, T.J. Miller and many other familiar faces. The film was one of the quickest productions in film history but it's not any less impressive due to it's hastiness. Things just came together really well the filmmakers say and it shows on screen.

Rudd plays Ned who as the film opens is living with his girlfriend Janet (Kathryn Hahn) on a biodynamic farm selling produce at the local farmers' market and weed on the side.  One day he's busted for selling cannabis to a uniformed police officer after he's tricked in to feeling sorry for him.  After spending 8 months in prison he returns home to find Janet living with another man (Miller).  She tells him to leave cold heartedly and even refuses to let him have his dog 'Willie Nelson'.  Ned first turns to his mother for a place to stay but then quickly becomes a burden to his three sisters as well (Banks, Deschanel and Mortimer).  Each has their own personal problems which Ned delves himself in to.  His naive trustingness of everyone and overwhelming honesty get him in to more trouble and causes problems with his entire family as well.

Paul Rudd is at his most likable and his performance really makes the movie.  The supporting cast is all good as well but it's Rudd that really makes the material work.  The script is pretty clever and heartfelt to begin with and Peretz directs it well but the filmmakers really knew what they were doing when they modeled it after Rudd.  There's something really inspiring and emotional about a character like Ned, almost in the same way as a 'Forrest Gump' or 'Rain Man' but I don't think Ned is mentally challenged in anyway.  He's seen as an idiot by others (including his own family) but that's just because he's so trusting and loving of others.  Ned's whole theory on life is that if you're always open and trusting of others, and truly put them to that test, they'll usually come through.  That's a really optimistic and positive way of going through life and some would say foolish but I disagree.  Of course many would see it as a weakness and try to take advantage of a person like that but in the end I think it's still worth it (by all the good you do).  I could really relate to the Ned character; I tend to be really trusting and open with others and also sometimes overly honest.  He ends up getting in a lot of trouble (by pissing his family and friends off) through sharing things people say about each other in private (and behind the others' back).  This is something I can really relate to. 

This movie IS a comedy. There are many types of comedy and you don't have to laugh out loud the whole time for it to be a comedy. The movie is funny, charming, and very cute.

It really isn't about Ned's philosophy of expecting the best of others and seeing the good in them because even thought some people don't, and it can hurt you, more people do and everyone is better for it. It's about family dynamics, life choices, and learning to accept your own actions.

By accepting responsibility for your own actions you are able to free yourself to be more accepting of other people despite their flaws. Because we all have flaws.

Ned is less of a protagonist and more of a catalyst for change in his sisters' lives. The only reason I don't give this movie a 9 star rating is because the ending is a little on the weak side. They could have stopped the movie a few minutes earlier and it would have been stronger.