A heartfelt and honest film from Jesse Peretz, the amusing Our Idiot Brother is by no means idiotic, but a sensible observation of life and the ties that bind.
Paul Rudd is perfectly cast as the outcast, the idiot whose foolish and trustworthy nature and whose willingness to rely on the honesty and goodwill of humankind is a less-than-optimal strategy for a tidy, trouble-free existence; it always lands him in a world of trouble, drifting from one extreme to another. Ironically, his turmoil and conflict brilliantly reconnects those in his life who cannot accept his unique disability.
His virtuousness sparks a dilemma that snowballs in a delightful consequence of events that tests courage, patience and honesty. In recent films dogs have become loyal co-stars, and Our Idiot Brother introduces another canine into stardom: a Golden Retriever named Willie Nelson becomes the adored sidekick, following in the paw print of the Jack Russels in Beginners and The Artist.
If you are looking for a refreshing and insightful experience, Our Idiot Brother is one of those rare gems that catch you by surprise with its first-rate story, lively characters and universality.
It is recommended to anyone looking for thought-provoking and feel-good escapism.
You are bound to remember Our Idiot Brother long after you leave the cinema and will most definitely re-examine the relationships in your own life; you will also realise that sometimes it helps to remain true to who you are and that all you have to do to conquer the up and downs in life, is simply allow your true self to be the guiding light.
Rating 4/5
Family, the source of so much drama, so much comedy, so many movies and, in the case of the new comedy, Our Idiot Brother, the source of the film itself. The story of three tightly-wound sisters and the well-meaning brother who unintentionally wreaks havoc in their lives, Our Idiot Brother is a collaboration between director Jesse Peretz, his sister, Vanity Fair contributing editor Evgenia Peretz, and her husband, documentary filmmaker David Schisgall. The three developed the story together and Evgenia Peretz and Schisgall co-wrote the screenplay.
Our Idiot Brother combines outlandish, yet realistic, situations with playful observations about contemporary urban life. "We loved the idea of an ensemble movie about adult siblings," explained Evgenia Peretz. "And we wanted to write a movie about people our age, living in New York. The seed of the idea was imagining what would happen if a very open, laid-back brother came into the lives of three sisters who are all sort of Type-A personalities."
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