JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME - IMAGE: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle
The title of Jeff, Who Lives at Home
tells you a lot about what sort of movie this might be: downtrodden,
acerbic, commuting between office parks and Mom’s basement. And for the
first 45 minutes, it confirms those suspicions in spades. Jason Segel
plays Jeff, Baton Rouge bong aficionado and holy fool. It often seems
like he’s using acting tips garnered from one of the more slack-jawed,
tattered Muppets. Ed Helms, as his goateed brother Pat, is merely doing a
Danny McBride imitation. Then the movie makes an unlikely pirouette,
and becomes something bewitching and lovely. Are directors Mark and Jay
Duplass suggesting, after all this grungy stasis, that some kind of
change is possible? They are, and the movie walks boldly through that
door.
- Showing at: Laurelhurst.
- Best paired with: Lucky Lab Super Dog IPA.
- Also showing: Total Recall (Bagdad. 11 pm Friday, June 1.)
