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The independent student news site of San Diego Mesa College.

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The Mesa Press

The Mesa Press

‘Our Idiot Brother,’ not just for idiots

Our Idiot Brother seems as if it is a fun comedy for young adults, but surprisingly comes through with a lot of emotion and a theme of honesty and trust.

It is a feel-good story about a goofy schlub named Ned, played by Paul Rudd, who’s trying to get his life back to what he would call “together” after a well-deserved stint in prison. He comes home to find his old life in shambles and is forced to move back home.

Rudd decides to mooch, bouncing from sister to sister and though he means well, he ends up ruining each of their individual lives by merely being himself.

The movie has a strange aura in terms of a genre, not even really sure of itself. It feels like a family feel good movie, yet it’s presented as if it’s for young adults– and in fact is. But it has a deep theme of trust and honesty that sprinkles quite a bit of drama throughout.

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The audience entered the theater expecting stoner jokes and a goofball hero in a straight world, but ended up leaving with an understanding that nobody is perfect.

Though the movie was entertaining, it lacked the comedy that it promised to bring. There were few moments of laughter, but for the most part it brought mostly smiles and a chuckle here and there.

Tear ducts were nowhere near necessary on either end of the spectrum, laughing or crying. Although each dramatic situation wraps itself up, they don’t do so with a lot of work. Each side story line ends pretty quickly, or even off-screen, leaving invested audience members slightly unsatisfied.

Our Idiot Brother really packs a lot more than it promised in terms of character and drama. With a cast of alumni of goofy comedies, it presented itself as a stoner comedy, but that imaginative individual leaves the theater with a full heart and a smile on. The movie touches on serious and emotional themes while still maintaining its entertainment value.

Rudd was as funny as he usually is as the lovable stoner who manages to constantly get himself in trouble. He creates bad luck with his own stupidity, but his intentions are so good that rooting for the guy feels natural, even when you’re slapping your forehead after each dumb move he makes.

Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Mortimer play his three very different sisters. They all gave good performances, but nothing too special was brought to the table.

Banks plays a business first, young journalist who will do almost anything for her big break. She was very strong as a similar character to other roles, although most of her jokes fell flat.

Deschanel is a flip-flopping bisexual, wannabe stand-up comic who seems to be pretty much floating shyly through life. It’s a similar character to her more popular movies, but maybe with a little less pizazz.

Mortimer plays an uptight housewife of an uptight documentary maker raising a repressed fun loving kid, with another baby in the works. She is made nervous by almost every decision Ned makes, especially when her child is involved.

Ned doesn’t really understand any of their lifestyles, but he doesn’t really try to relate to them. This gets in the way of their relationship on multiple occasions, but provides quite a bit of trouble and hilarity.

Our Idiot Brother is a solid feel good movie that packs a lot more than one would assume. Viewers going in expecting a laugh riot full of goofball antics will be slightly disappointed. They will be taken into a much richer story and will leave content.

Paul Rudd as Ned, the mooching brother who inadvertently takes a toll on his sisters. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IMDB

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    Beth MintonSep 20, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Hmmm – this review piques my curiosity. I think I might need to go see this movie.

    Reply