Review of Terri (2011) by William D — 15 Jul 2011

This is a quiet, slow, often charming film that maybe, maybe set its sights a little too low. It's a pleasant watch, but ultimately not enough dramatic or emotional payoff to make this a really good movie. I.E., we get it, it's OK to be different. And nice people are better than bad people. And life is confusing.

John C. Reilly, having warmed up for costarring with an awkward fat kid with last year's Cyrus, is dependably John C. Reillyish. The title fat kid does a decent job as the kindhearted misfit. Creed from The Office is the real surprise here. Even though it seems a little like stunt-casting to have him play the semi-lucid uncle, Creed underplays it, and it's a nice subtle performance. Adult Swim fans: Tim of Tim & Eric non-fame has a cameo.

There's a lengthy sequence toward the end, a showdown of sorts between Terri and two of his newfound friends, that nearly raises the movie to another level. (At the same time, it structurally made me think, "Jeez, I thought John C. Reilly was the costar, and we haven't seem him in a long, long time.").

Overall, if you like the quiet quirky indie movies, this is decent enough.