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Friday, June 18, 2010

MOVIE REVIEW
Cyrus
In Los Angeles, Daddy Issues For A Mamma's Boy


John C. Reilly as John and Jonah Hill as Cyrus in "Cyrus", Mark and Jay Duplass' film, which opened today in limited release in the U.S. 
Fox Searchlight
                                                                                                                  
by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        Follow popcornreel on Twitter FOLLOW
Friday, June 18, 2010

Jonah Hill gets serious as the title character in "Cyrus", a disappointing new drama from filmmaking brothers Jay and Mark Duplass.  "Cyrus" world premiered at January's Sundance Film Festival.  Mr. Hill plays a 21-year-old music man joined at the hip of his mother Molly (Marisa Tomei).  Their special relationship frustrates the lovelorn and divorced John (John C. Reilly), whose ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) is about to re-marry. 

In the interim, John and Molly are blooming.  Cyrus is brooding.

Mr. Hill sinks into a moody retreat from his prior lovable lug characters ("Get Him To The Greek") to engineer a quietly jarring portrayal.  Cyrus is fiercely protective of Molly.  Mr. Hill gives Cyrus an abruptness and emotional temperature that fluctuates wildly.  The film however, doesn't quite match Mr. Hill's eagerness.  It consists of unremarkable conversational pieces, purposefully awkward humor and lacks dramatic punch.  I'm unsure if "Cyrus" was trying to be a comedy or something more serious.

Films like "Chuck And Buck" and "One Hour Photo" take potentially funny people and/or situations and moor them deep in the realm of creepy.  "Cyrus" gets trapped in serious situations where the comedy meant to underlie them doesn't work to its fullest potential.  That's more a function of a tame script by the directors than it is the acting, even if Mr. Reilly has done better work in films like "Hard Eight", "Boogie Nights" or "Chicago".

As you watch "Cyrus" you feel detached, going through the motions of a stale film that wastes good work from the ever-reliable Catherine Keener ("Please Give") and a vivacious Marisa Tomei, playing the ebullient, un-self-conscious single mother.  Molly is smart and maintains a non-judgment throughout as Cyrus dotes on her more than many would appreciate.  Ms. Tomei is the key to "Cyrus".  Her work in it is decent, giving the Duplass' film the only real spark of life it possesses.  Unfortunately, "Cyrus" as a film doesn't engage its audience enough for us to care much.

With: Matt Walsh.

"Cyrus" is rated R by the Motion Picture Association Of America for language and some sexual material.  The film's duration is one hour and 32 minutes.

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