By snoadmin
Sometimes the complexity of everyday life is enough to sustain a feature-length film. This can be said about the newest Jay and Mark Duplass mumblecore genre film, “Jeff, Who Lives at Home,” in theaters March 16.
“Jeff, Who Lives at Home” follows the story of Jeff (Jason Segel) a 30-year-old stoner who lives in the basement of his mother Sharon’s (Susan Sarandon). The movie begins with Sharon giving Jeff one task to do in the day: buy wood glue to fix a broken kitchen cabinet.
Jeff hasn’t accomplished much since graduating high school and has been in a rut since his father died. While on the way to get wood glue, Jeff looks for signs from the universe to help determine his path in life.
Jeff ends up running into his brother Pat (Ed Helms) outside of Hooters. Pat and Jeff have grown apart over the years. However, Pat’s life isn’t what he expected it to be, dealing with financial woes and a struggling marriage to his wife Linda (Judy Greer).
Through a series of comedic and unexpected events, Jeff crosses paths with his family in the strangest locations and circumstances. Jeff’s weed-induced connection to the universe has a profound effect on his brother, mother and himself this one special day.
While nothing substantial plot-wise happens over the day, the movie does culminate in a climax that is worth the journey.
“Jeff, Who Lives at Home” is one of the latest installments in the mumblecore genre. Mumblecore is a fairly new genre of filmmaking that is of low budget production. The films are usually shot with a handheld camera and a microphone. The actors remain unmiked to produce a natural sound quality to the film. Mumblecore films also don’t focus on plot as much as they do with natural dialogue.
Helms gives a surprising performance in one of his most serious roles to date. Helms strays away from the comedic characters he plays on “The Office” and “The Hangover” movies. He and Segel have good chemistry and play convincing brothers.
Sarandon also shines in her subplot as she deals with a secret admirer in her workplace. While she remains disconnected from her sons for most of the film, her story is both as silly and heartwarming as that of Helms and Segel.
The message of the film is to live life in the now and not worry about who you are or who you could’ve been. It’s the relationships to the people closest to you that matter the most and life is just journey in keeping them that way.
Don’t go into this film expecting another laugh-out-loud comedy. This film is nothing like “The Hangover” series. Instead, it’s a mild comedy, with the laughs deriving from its naturalistic dialogue and situations synonymous with mumblecore films. The plot is simple with a comedic deadpan tone.