Our Idiot Brother

Film: Our Idiot Brother

Starring: Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man) and Elizabeth Banks (The Next Three Days)

Director: Jesse Peretz (The Ex)

U.S. Release: August 26th, 2011 (Rated R)

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 90 minutes


Paul Rudd had a short lived experience being on top. With a plethura of knockout supporting performances, Rudd finally broke into a leading role with his awkwardly funny hit I Love You, Man. Since then he's been somewhat in a lull with releases such as Dinner for Schmucks and How Do You Know, both of which were far from successful. Rudd's latest attempt at capturing the audience's heart and funny bone comes in the form of Our Idiot Brother, a festival darling turned mainstream.

Ned (Rudd) is anything but ordinary. He's a kind, trusting, free spirited indivudual living by a set of ideals. Yet when Ned gets arrested for selling marijuana to a uniformed officer and is forced to serve eight months in prison, upon his exit he's thrown back into the real world with his mother and three sisters. Despite the best of intentions, Ned infultrates each of his sister's "perfect"little worlds spawning disaster after disaster.

Our Idiot Brother is far from the typical mainstream comedy that's been forced down your throat these past few years. It's a wholesome story about good versus evil, and Paul Rudd's character Ned is certainly good. This role is perfectly suited for Paul Rudd, and had anyone else been cast, the movie would have been far less affective. Rudd is able to use his signature awkward humor to compliment a well paced movie. With a mere 90 minute runtime, Our Idiot Brother never drags or wears down the audience.

With the film, director Jesse Peretz creates a lovable character that, no mater how stupid he is at times, you can't help but root for. And although many of the characters are polarizing, as a whole the movie works. Our Idiot Brother isn't the type of comedy you'll tell everyone to rush and see, but it's a steady stream of laughs with a good moral.

Bottom line the movie is nothing groundbreaking, but its good natured charm is enough to keep it enjoyable from start to finish. If you're like me and eager to check out Paul Rudd in Our Idiot Brother, then I give you the green light. If the trailer isn't all too appealing to you, then catch it on DVD or television some other time.


Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-