• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo
  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies
  • Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

Movies: Our Idiot Brother, Circumstance, Higher Ground

Nathaniel Rogers August 26, 2011

Ouridiot-sleepover
 Paul Rudd overstays his welcome in "Our Idiot Brother"

GuestbloggerNATHANIEL ROGERS
…would live in the movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience. Follow him on Twitter @nathanielr.

 
YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATION
If Willie Nelson had ever done a cover of "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" a simple name change to "Ned" would provide the perfect theme song for OUR IDIOT BROTHER. Like Maria, who just wasn't an asset to that abbey, sweet stoner Ned (Paul Rudd) has good intentions but is always in trouble; he's a headache, a flibbertijibbet, a clown. At the beginning of Our Idiot Brother we learn that Ned is both gentle enough and dumb enough to take pity on a sad uniformed cop and sell him some weed. See Ned go to prison.

Ned is lamb enough to not put up a fight when his lion-maned hippie girlfriend Janet (Kathryn Hahn) boots him off of their farm. His short prison stint was time enough for her to replace him with another manchild boyfriend (their similarity pays off in a fun sideways ways later on). Ned can deal with being homeless and jobless but is heartbroken about losing custody of his beloved dog "Willie Nelson". When he returns to his family in New York and begins couch-hopping, his only goal in life is to earn enough money to get Willie Nelson back.

Ouridiot-brother

Ned's sisters are played by the wonderful comic actresses Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks and Zooey Deschanel but they're unfortunately allowed only a dimension or two to play: Mortimer is the harried control-freak housewife who turns a blind eye to her husband's (Steve Coogan) questionable behavior, Banks is a type A bitch and scruple free journalist who uses her next door neighbor (Adam Scott) carelessly, and Deschanel is a flighty comedienne who can't quite commit to her girlfriend (Rashida Jones) and takes up with an artist (Hugh Dancy) who paints nude models. Guess who needs the money?

A VISUAL ANSWER, AFTER THE JUMP…

Ouridiot-paul

The sisters are basically the film's chorus with their idiot brother as star soloist. Ned's guileless actions and constant truth-telling get him into numerous awkward situations but wreak utter havoc with the personal and romantic lives of virtually everyone around him.

You can practically hear his exasperated sisters curse/singing:

He'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
He could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
He is gentle! He is wild!
He's a riddle! He's a child!
He's a headache! He's an angel!
He's a girl!

It comes out less musical than that and more whiny… "Our idiot brother ruined my life!" (The irony of the sisters protestations is that he's good for them.)

Where is this Sound of Music analogy going? It's getting away from me it is though it springs from a real place!  The 40 Year Old Virgin, another Paul Rudd movie that revolved around an improbably innocent middle-aged man, achieved perfect lift-off with a goofy surreal rendition of "Age of Aquarius" from another 60s musical. Our Idiot Brother has no such song and dance. Ned's headspace may be cloudy but the movie remains frustratingly earth-bound. It has its solid share of funny bits, thanks largely to the talented cast, but very few riotous laugh lines. One keeps wishing Our Idiot Brother would find a nice grassy mountain top from which to spin itself into a comic frenzy and take off soaring; the movie hums along pleasantly but never truly sings.

Cirumstance-heads ALSO OPENING: Oscar nominated Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air), directs and stars in HIGHER GROUND, a compelling look at a Christian woman's struggle with her faith. Broadway fans take note that she's filled her cast with award winning stage veterans including: the sensational Dagmara Dominczyk (who happens to be Mrs. Patrick Wilson in real life, lucky girl) as her sensually-minded best friend, Donna Murphy as her mother, and Norbert Leo Butz and Bill Irwin as preachers.

This week's To See List for gay moviegoers should include CIRCUMSTANCE, the acclaimed Iranian film about two teenage girls whose love affair is a dangerous thing in Tehran. Here in the States we often get such a distorted picture of the breadth of life experiences in the Middle East. Circumstance joins a welcome list of controversial films that train their eyes on contemporary Iranian life and gender politics (some with gay content as well since sexism and homophobia are such kindred prejudices). If you like Circumstance, I'd recommend seeking out these films if you can find them: The Circle (2000), Dog Sweat (2010) and the animated Oscar nominee Persepolis (2007). They're eye-opening.

And still more options as summer movie season wraps up: Zoe Saldana seeks sweet revenge (and bankability) in the action drama COLOMBIANA, and producer Guillermo Del Toro (of Pan's Labyrinth fame) offers up the new horror film DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK.

Topics: Film/TV/Stream, Music, Space More Posts About: Film, Nathaniel Rogers, Paul Rudd

Related Posts
  • LGBTQ Pro Wrestling Documentary ‘Out In The Ring’ Wins Best Canadian Feature at Inside Out Toronto Film Festival
  • Viola Davis was called by director’s maid’s name
  • The Week in Pictures: May 13 – May 20
  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    Published by BANG Showbiz English John Waters thinks mainstream Hollywood films are just as shocking as his gross-out cult classics. The groundbreaking 77-year-old director made his name with the 1972 black comedy ‘Pink Flamingos’ that famously …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

    Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John is “back home and in good health” after being rushed to hospital. The 76-year-old pop icon suffered a fall at his French villa on Sunday (27.08.23) evening and …Read More »
  • Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

    Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

    Published by OK Magazine Here's to the newlyweds! On Friday, September 8, Good Morning America star Robin Roberts tied the knot with her girlfriend of 18 years, Amber Laign. The reporter broke the news on her …Read More »
  • Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

    Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Ellen DeGeneres has announced her return to TV. The 65-year-old star's eponymous ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show' came to an end in May 2022 after 19 seasons and she's now revealed her …Read More »
Previous Post: « Towleroad Guide to the Tube #955
Next Post: Blog Notes: Irene, Andrew, and Penn »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo

    Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo

  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

  • Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

    Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

  • Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

    Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

  • Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

    Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

  • Madonna ‘Would Love’ for Britney Spears to Come on Tour With Her After Recent Split From Sam Asghari

    Madonna ‘Would Love’ for Britney Spears to Come on Tour With Her After Recent Split From Sam Asghari

  • Lourdes Leon, Daughter Of Madonna, Shocks With See-Through String Dress At Victoria’s Secret Show

    Lourdes Leon, Daughter Of Madonna, Shocks With See-Through String Dress At Victoria’s Secret Show

  • Mike Pence Confronted by Emotional Mom of Trans Child About Laws to Protect Lgbtq Kids From Violence

    Mike Pence Confronted by Emotional Mom of Trans Child About Laws to Protect Lgbtq Kids From Violence

Adjacent News

  • Did the UAE ban the Barbie movie? What about Saudi Arabia?

    Did the UAE ban the Barbie movie? What about Saudi Arabia?

  • From penal camp, dissident Navalny calls on Russians to resist Putin

    From penal camp, dissident Navalny calls on Russians to resist Putin

  • As contentious judicial ‘reform’ becomes law in Israel, Netanyahu cements his political legacy

    As contentious judicial ‘reform’ becomes law in Israel, Netanyahu cements his political legacy

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Beyonce pays tribute to stabbed fan

    Beyonce pays tribute to stabbed fan

  • Dwight Howard’s Assault Accuser Submits Uber Receipt as Evidence in Court Battle With Ex-Lakers Star

    Dwight Howard’s Assault Accuser Submits Uber Receipt as Evidence in Court Battle With Ex-Lakers Star

  • After Bud Light, Ukraine ‘Scandals,’ Garth Brooks Surprises Again

    After Bud Light, Ukraine ‘Scandals,’ Garth Brooks Surprises Again

Partner Links

  • OMG, he’s naked: Former British Olympian discus thrower Brett Morse
    6ft3 giant Brett Morse is a former British Olympian discus thrower […]
  • Tuesday Round-Up: Melissa Etheridge; Anthony Bowens; Jonathan Van Ness; Billy Porter & more!
    Melissa Etheridge Says She Was Named ‘Worst Female Vocalist’ By Rolling […]
  • OMG, why not wear it? The table skirt from Hussein Chalayan’s F/W 2000 After Words collection
    Pip pip, fashun friends—I’m writing to you from London where I’ve […]
  • OMG, Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, and Jamie Bell star in queer thriller ‘All of Us Strangers’
    From director Andrew Haigh. One night in his near-empty tower block […]
  • The Richest 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Stars, Ranked From Lowest to Highest Net Worth
    The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is back! Season 4 […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×
×