REVIEW: CYRUS

3/5

15, 91 Minutes. Starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh. Director: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass.

This may not be a 'family' comedy, but there's more values in this movie than the degrading comedy you'd expect.

Right inbetween the summer blockbuster season and the fall of the big movies comes 'Cyrus'. An offbeat comedy starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill and Marisa Tomei (Stand aside Mrs. Stifler.) The film starts with Reilly's character (also named 'John' (Oh these indie directors)) being 'compromisingly' discovered by his ex wife of 7 years. Who announces she's engaged and proposes that he finds himself some new 'company' for the wedding other than one of a tube sock. Just like any ex guilty that her old husband will turn up to her wedding alone, depressed and akward would.

So off we head to another one of those far too cool parties that we only see in the movies. There John takes off the parties cool a little bit. Getting far too drunk (you know the one, you've been the one), a little destructive, a little too public with his urinating and also a little too public with his singing and dancing. As he sings along to 'Dont you want me baby',(A 'song' I'm proud I've momentarily forgot who recorded) it all just goes without saying. Amongst all this however one woman anmed Molly (Tomei) see's him for all he really is and in a matchup and date progression that again is only seen in movies, love blossoms.

Now a little stalking later (now that's more like real life right?...right?...erm) he runs into Cyrus (Jonah Hill) Molly's son. Now to say he's a tad strange is an understatement. Cyrus' musical aspirations are well 'out there' at least and trust me on this one you aint gonna want him to make you a mid-night snack. So John must win the affections of both Molly and Cyrus and although this idea is one that's probably been done many times before in films you'll have never seen or will see something unfold quite like this.

Now is it funny? Yes! Funny all the time? No! This however isn't (like most comedies right now) due to the other jokes falling flat. If you where expecting a full on gross out comedy or even another 'Step Brothers', call it 'Step Brothers 2: Meet The Stepson' than think again. There's a lot of drama in this film, that suddenly hits you out of nowhere, but when it's time for these actors to flex their acting muscles it all works out, even if two of them look out of shape (Sorry guys). There's also a great romantic start to this film that is far from the set up filler you usually see in other comedies these days.

The direction in this film is top notch, the indie kids do it again. The way the dramatic or romantic scenes are filmed and focussed in such a polished way that it further helps you believe that this picture is far more than another typical popcorn film. Also like most Hollywood pictures the city of Los Angeles is a co-star again and thanks to some handy shots on the freeway and downtown it's never looked better on screen. The only problem with this film is that sometimes because of how good the comedy and drama is it struggles to find a definition. In it's weaker moments 'Cyrus' looks like a film that doesn't know what it wants to be but in it's best moments none of that matters. It's unpredictable and welcomingly refreshing from other comedies these days that have the same feeling as drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth. 'Cyrus' is definitly an aquired taste but a satisfying one at that. A film of polar opposites but in this case one's everyone can get in line for. TIM DAVID HARVEY