Directors: Jay & Mark Duplass
Starring: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 83 minutes
Synopsis: Dispatched from his mother’s basement on an errand, slacker Jeff may discover the destiny he’s been awaiting when he spends the day with his brother Pat (Helms), who is investigating his potentially unfaithful wife…
Fresh from singing and dancing along with the Muppets, Jason Segal’s latest vehicle is a different beast altogether. A low-key character driven piece from the Duplass Brothers (the men behind 2010’s CYRUS), JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME is a film that deals with destiny, signs, and the interconnectivity of everything. All of which is seen through the eyes of the titular character – who happens to be sweet and knowledgeable, but ultimately, a lazy stoner.
The film rockets along at a reasonable pace, and contains some great performances from all involved. However, whilst the film is serviceable enough, and will please cinemagoers that like their films thoughtful and quirky, there’s a nagging feeling that the entire film is a mish-mash of ideas that just don’t gel properly.
Essentially, it’s three stories rolled into one: Jeff’s search for signs that will lead him to his eventual destiny (personified by a mystery man named Kevin), his brother Pat’s relationship issues, and their mother Sharon (Sarandon) and her mystery workplace admirer. Jeff and Pat’s stories dovetail into one another quite early on, resulting in some very funny and poignant scenes between Segel and Helms, as Jeff attempts to help his brother through his relationship issues. Sadly, the office scenes featuring Sarandon have absolutely no bearing on events whatsoever, other then to get her to the location of the film’s climax, and feel very much like unrequired surplus.
The film is very much driven by coincidences and unsubtle symbolism, which eventually grates as the film starts to believe it’s more intelligent then it actually is. That said, it is a film that rewards the viewers that stick with it for its short running time, not least of all due to some fantastic performances – Jason Segal is instantly loveable as Jeff, giving a sweet and endearing turn that makes it impossible not to fall for him. Elsewhere, Ed Helm’s plays Pat perfectly – hard to like at first, but slowly unraveling (in much the same way as his marriage does) so that by the film’s end, you can’t help but root for him.
Overall, it’s a great way to while away a quiet afternoon – short enough not to drag, the story goes along at a good pace, and the central performances are fantastic. Sadly, it fails in making the point about life and philosophy it attempts to get across (whatever that is). Ultimately, it feels like a misfire, full of too much obvious symbolism and unconnected story threads. For a film about the interconnectivity of life, it’s a rather disjointed endeavor.
JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME arrives in UK cinemas 11th May
