Cyrus

A Deft Blend of Comedy and Drama
A film starring John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill is going to attract a certain audience...And that is not the correct audience for this film. While Reilly is an accomplished dramatic actor, he's become well-known for appearing in successful comedies lately; Hill is best-known for his work in the Apatow-cannon. Cyrus is the type of film the average moviegoer dismisses as "too weird" or "not funny," which both miss the point entirely. To use a term I'm not fond of, Cyrus is a "dramedy," that seamlessly blends both comedy and drama avoiding cheap punchlines and dramatic, emotional cues. If you think Step Brothers is the "best movie ever" and you're expecting typical Jonah Hill-fare, this is not your movie. If you watch it with an open mind, you'll find it quite rewarding.

John C. Reilly plays John, still wallowing in loneliness seven years after his divorce. Now, his ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) is getting re-married and she takes John to a party in the hope that he'll find...

A Paean to the Passive Aggressive
*** This review may contain spoilers ***

No, I don't usually like movies that feature quite a bit of improvisation and jerky cinematography. Nonetheless, 'Cyrus' has enough crazy moments in it, that it's actually kind of funny. This is not your usual laugh out loud comedy. Rather, it's a farce where we're asked to laugh at (not with) a set of sharply defined, passive-aggressive character types.

A central characteristic of the passive-aggressive personality type is that he/she rarely is able to express anger in a direct, forceful way. Instead, the anger is expressed in a series of short, aggressive bursts and passive retreats. The passive aggressive personality lives in a pressure cooker and inevitably must end up exploding. But once the explosion is over, they will end up where they started: in the same passive aggressive holding pattern, leading nowhere. Passive aggressives can also be thought of as belonging to the larger family of masochists who enjoy...

Serious issues
John C Reilly got all the attention, but it's Jonah Hill who kicks butt as the "mama's boy from hell". It's certainly a low-budget Indie effort, but I applaud all involved; Marisa Tomei plays a woman at wit's end, Reilly plays a loveable schlub, and Catherine Keener watches it all from afar as if nothing could be more fun.

It's a new take on an old story, except the "kid" is in his 20's. I enjoyed the film; some clever banter.
Reilly got some award recognition, but it's Jonah Hill who makes it all interesting.

I'm glad I rented it, but wouldn't buy it for future viewings.

Click to Editorial Reviews