Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2012)
Written and Directed by Jay and Mark Duplass
Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a small, intimate film about a family floating in different directions in life, unhappy, insecure, indifferent. It’s like they are just waiting around for their lives to kick into gear. Susan Sarandon is the mother, and Jason Segel and Ed Helms are her two grown sons.
This type of movie is right up my alley. I was anticipating this for some time now.
And yet, it didn’t work for me at all.
Segel and Sarandon are perfectly pleasant and charming here, but whenever Helms shows up and does/says something stupid, the film grinds to a halt. Whenever the plot depends on sloppy coincidences to bring our family together, my heart just sinks. And don’t get me started with that maudlin climax. Those tears were not earned. Every emotion was forced, fake and false.
For a play on alliteration, this is the perfect opportunity to slap this film with an F, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Segel and Sarandon are just too good. Segel brings a sweet naïveté to his role as a simple man in need of some guidance. I’m a longtime fan of his, and he can clearly carry a film. And Sarandon, lovelier and graceful than ever, kind of feels like she’s in an entirely different movie. Her office romance felt as contrived as the rest of the film, but the camera simply loves her. She’s so easy on the eyes.
So thank Segel and Sarandon, breaths of fresh air, for keeping Jeff, Who Lives at Home from completely sinking to the bottom of the bay.
That’s a shame. I’m a fan of Segel (wasted on How I Met Your Mother). His characters always come off as endearing and find myself empathising with them. Hmm.
More folks seem to be liking this film more than I did, so it’s worth a shot! You may dig it.
Great review. Sad it didn’t work for you, though
I’ve read two Jeff reviews today and the other one praises it. I’d like to watch the film and see where I stand.
It does work for some folks, so what do I know??
I look forward to your thoughts!
So sad to read this review! I feel the complete opposite – I love it. A wonderful, magical little movie. The coincidences… that was kind of the point. Aghhhh. Watch it again in a few months! Maybe you’ll be in a different mood and more accepting of it.
Hey, Kid! Good seeing you on here. I know the coicidences were keeping in line with the intent of the story, but it still felt so maudlin and contrived. The emotions just didn’t feel earned. And I really found Ed Helms obnoxious. If it were just Segel and Sarandon, it may be have been more tolerable.