There’s that old maxim that if something seems too good too be true, it probably is. That certainly is the case for John (John C. Reilly) in Jay and Mark Duplass’ Cyrus, a darkly comic look at love and its pitfalls. John’s been divorced for seven years and hasn’t truly recovered. However, when he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), a beautiful, giving woman who accepts him unconditionally, he thinks he’s turned a corner. Problem is, her son Cyrus (Jonah Hill), who at 21 years old still lives at home and considers his mom his best friend, is less than thrilled about John’s sudden intrusion into their lives.
The battle that ensues between the two men over Molly’s affections has its funny moments, but the film winds up being a three-pronged character study. Each of them are desperate cases in their own right, as they’re afraid of either being alone or making a true commitment. The three principles deliver raw, honest performances while the Duplass’ intrusive, handheld camera cuts directly to the heart of each of them. In the end, while John, Molly and Cyrus might be coming from different places, they realize their individual needs draw them together.
Contact Chuck Koplinski at ckoplinski@usd116.org.
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2010.
