Movie Review: 'Cyrus'

Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly fight for the attention of Marisa Tomei in "Cyrus." PHOTO: Fox Searchlight

If you go to watch “Cyrus” expecting a broad, slapstick “battle between two men” comedy highlighted with hilarious pratfalls and tomfoolery, then I don’t blame you for being disappointed because that’s how the film has been marketed. Instead, this sweet, mature and superbly acted indie is, more than anything, a light romantic comedy/drama hybrid.

John (John C. Reilly) is a lonely and paranoid 40-something film editor who hasn't gotten over the breakup of his marriage from seven years ago. Still single and marginally depressed, John is coaxed by his ex-wife (Catherine Keener) and her fiancé Tim (Matt Walsh) to join them at a party. After a couple of awkward and drunken exchanges, John somehow manages to attract the attention of Molly (Marisa Tomei) who turns out to be the woman of his dreams. She’s smart, funny, gorgeous and sexy. But is she single? That’s the question John asks himself after she keeps hastily rushing home in the middle of the night after spending their evenings together. Perplexed, he follows her home only to discover she has an awkward and creepy 21-year-old son named Cyrus (Jonah Hill) who may or may not make his living as a New Age trance musician.

CYRUS

To say that the obese, weird and morbidly dependant Cyrus shares a dangerously close relationship with Molly would be an understating it. Rather than acting like a parent and child, Cyrus and Molly are more like buddies who do everything but sleep together. Thus when John enters their lives, Cyrus automatically feels threatened and starts to sabotage John and Molly’s relationship by slyly poisoning their minds with lies and progressively making John’s life harder. John, being the standup guy that he is, tries to be friendly with Cyrus but soon realizes all his attempts are futile since Cyrus flat-out hates him. But John isn’t going to quit so easily and soon the two are shoulders deep into a war of wills over the attention of Molly.

On paper, “Cyrus” sounds just like another “adversaries” battle comedy and that’s how studio Fox Searchlight has been promoting it but writer-director siblings Jay and Mark Duplass have other ideas in mind. Instead of going for cheap slapstick humor and one-upmanship associated with that sub-genre of comedy, they instead approach the characters as serious fleshed-out individuals who have genuine issues with each other. Sure, Cyrus is an oddball but the Duplass’s don’t make his interests a laughing matter. Most of the humor is derived from the awkward conversations and situations between John and Cyrus. The filmmakers also spend a good time on the relationship between Molly and John and even though it’s kind of far-fetched to see John C. Reilly hooking up with Marisa Tomei, the script and the actors do a great job with making it a believable relationship. Helping the film’s subject matter and tone is Jas Shelton’s photography. “Cyrus” is shot digitally using handheld camerawork and Shelton employs many extreme close-ups, snap zooms and even non-synched dialogue to give the film a very intimate, personal, sometimes even documentary-like feel.

John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill have a little chat in
"Cyrus." PHOTO: Fox Searchlight

Both Reilly and Tomei are as strong as usual here. With the film’s first 10 minutes being not-so-flattering to the character, John could have easily been portrayed as a pathetic loser but Reilly’s everyman likeability and homely persona give us a strong reason to want to see him succeed. This is enriched by the strong chemistry he shares with Tomei who gives another beautiful and nuanced performance as a woman who loves her son so much that she’s blocked out the harm that he’s been causing on her social life. While both Reilly and Tomei are acclaimed Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning actors, it’s Jonah Hill who really steals the show here as the dependent and mentally-unstable Cyrus. Saddled with a role that is a departure from his usual roles in Judd Apatow comedies (like this summer's "Get Him to the Greek"), Hill manages to make Cyrus a disturbing and creepy kid but also gives him a tinge of pathetic and tragic characteristics to give the audience a reason to feel for him.

BOTTOM LINE: “Cyrus” is an often sweet and amusing independent comedy-drama that is bolstered by very strong performances from its three leads. Though it may not be the broad comedy Fox Searchlight has been marketing it to be, it’s strong writing, fleshed-out characters, and intimate tone make it a worthy watch for those looking for a smart and mature film devoid of explosions and CGI.

GRADE:

CYRUS
Directed by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass
Written by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener
Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes
Rated: R (for language and some sexual material)

“CYRUS” is now playing in the following locations – in Broward county: Sunrise Eleven, Sunrise Gateway 4; in Miami-Dade county: AMC Aventura 24, Regal South Beach 18, AMC Sunset Place; in Palm-Beach county: Regal Shadowood 18, Cinemark Palace 20. Click on the NCM Widget below for Showtimes.

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