Cyrus

CYRUS (2010) - July 6, 2010
Meh.  About a man who meets the woman of his dreams, only to find himself in conflict with her bizarre adult son, who still lives with her.  My main problem with this film is that the premise, and the over-the-top way these characters tend to act (particularly the Jonah Hill character), seems like it would be more at home in the latest Happy Madison or Adam McKay film.  However, writer/directors Jay and Mark Duplass imbue the film with a realistic, documentary-like tone and style which is entirely at odds with the more outrageous elements of the plot.  It feels very incongruous.  The movie is basically entertaining and very well acted, but it's definitely at its best in the quieter moments.  Also: the Duplass brothers' directorial style, with its jittery camerawork and inexplicably random zooms, is completely unappealing.  **1/2