I know that there are many of those who would see promotions for Paul Rudd in an R-rated comedy and automatically assume that Hollywood is simply barraging audiences with yet another raunchy film, but a number of factors make Our Idiot Brother quite distinct. First and foremost, Our Idiot Brother is an independent film that premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and only later earned a wide release, so it was virtually guaranteed that this film would offer more than crude laughs. Second, this latest entry at the theater boasted a remarkably talented cast, many of whom have worked with Paul Rudd before to produce significant laughs. Finally, not only was Paul Rudd being given the chance to play the kind of character that accentuates his strengths, but he would also be able to blend in drama and reality by focusing on a family dynamic that many moviegoers can recognize. So, it was quite clear that Our Idiot Brother would be different from the raunchy comedies that have saturated the 2011 Summer Movie Season, and I was looking forward to seeing what this newest festival sweetheart could offer.
Paul Rudd may give a charming performance as an optimistic simpleton, but that represents the only element of Our Idiot Brother that is consistent, as the rest of the film’s quality is decidedly erratic. Considering the résumés of the supporting cast, you would think that they would have no problem working together to produce a story filled with laughs, but almost everyone is guilty of strained over-acting. The one standout is Rashida Jones, who clearly has fun with her role and gets a little bit creative, but unfortunately, she isn’t given much screen time. As far as the story goes, not only does the pacing drag for quite some time, but the narrative devices that ultimately unfold are also shamefully boring…don’t get me wrong, the last thirty minutes are funny, engaging, and heartfelt, but the film asks far too much of its audience by taking more than an hour to get there and truly start entertaining. If you are a fan of the cast, I am sure that you will enjoy Our Idiot Brother, but do not expect extreme laughs; instead, focus on the story and characters and have faith that they ultimately deliver an enjoyable message.
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Overall Recommendation: Medium
