Review of Cyrus (2010) by Teddy V — 29 Jan 2012

Jay and Mark Duplass made a film that I questioned the originality for a while before I saw it. Cyrus seems like Step Brothers, but I think that must be part of the reason why they cast John C. Reilly in the role (other than the fact that he's amazing).

But really what they do here is something much different than Step Brothers. Cyrus is a dramedy that follows John, a man in his 40s who has been divorced for 7 years and still feels an attachment to his wife.

He says he will move on and find his own way, but he hasn't, so his ex-wife forces him to go to a party and mingle. What's so great about the film is that it shows how John has attachment issues with his ex-wife, but he doesn't want to accept them with Cyrus.

And the film never really offers a side for the audience to take. Cyrus isn't an awful guy. His mother created these attachment problems. She was probably the cause of his panic attacks. She tells John after the first night that her life is complicated.

Then we meet Cyrus. So what? He is nice enough. And she seems to think he's great. She was worried about him coming into their lives and Cyrus acting out like he's a child. Treat the man like a child, he will act like a child.

Then you have the fault of John himself for not being honest with Molly in the first place. He should have told her everything right away. Plus, like I said before, he's never fully understanding of Cyrus's situation.

The film also has a technique that I really loved: the scenes where they are talking in voiceover like a regular conversation that is happening, but they are just smiling and looking at each other. I thought it was engaging and really well done.

Not all the character things fully make sense here. I sometimes felt like Cyrus was too much of a child for his ability to act so mature at other times. And I would have liked more from the wedding scene.

It was built up to be a big deal for John but we never really get to feel it, other than he is hearing wedding bells in his own relationship. But I don't think it really makes the film suffer all that much.

The actors really pull everything off well that if we don't fully believe what's going on, we still want to watch what's going to happen between them. Duplass brothers, I can't wait to see more from you.

Especially excited for Jeff Who Lives At Home to come out this year.