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| Jeff (Jason Segel) and Pat (Ed Helms) spy on Pat's wife who they believe may be cheating on him. Credits: Indian Paintbrush |
Movie: Jeff, Who Lives at Home
Starring: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer
and Rae Dawn Chong
Directors: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
Jeff (Jason Segel) is stuck. He is 30 years old, unemployed,
is a Sci- Fi fan, does drugs and lives with his mother. He isn’t alone though.
Ever since his father died about 15 years earlier, his brother and mother are
stuck as well. His mother Sharon, (Susan Sarandon) has dated a few times, but
nothing serious and is lonely. His brother Pat (Ed Helms) thinks of himself as
mature, but would rather buy a new car than work on his marriage with Linda
(Judy Greer). By the end of “Jeff, Who Lives at Home,” all will be un-stuck.
Jeff is portrayed as simple-minded believing that everything
happens for a reason and is waiting to find his destiny. He receives a phone
call from someone looking for Kevin and feels that this is a sign. Could it
really be a sign or is it just the marijuana talking? On this same day, it is
Sharon’s birthday and would like nothing more than her son to get off the
couch, buy some wood glue and fix the decorative kitchen shutter. To make sure
that he does it, she enlists in the help of Pat to nag his brother to do this
task. From what starts as a simple story, the planets line up or perhaps it is just
a series of coincidences that happen to complicate things. Jeff runs into Pat
while looking for the mysterious Kevin, Pat runs into Linda who is with a mysterious
man and Sharon discovers that she has a mysterious secret admirer.
Though, not on purpose, “Jeff” could take as an allegory for
walking in faith as a Christian. At one point, Pat tells Jeff that he wishes
that he could be more like him. He doesn’t understand Jeff’s faith. Sometimes
Christians wander around like Jeff waiting to hear from God on what to do next.
Sometimes we do things that seem crazy to those around us. Sometimes we hear
from God, sometimes it maybe be just the pizza we ate at 3 a.m. talking to us.
Faith takes trust. Pat can’t see beyond himself and is unhappy. Jeff assures
him that he isn’t happy either as he waits to find his destiny. Many Christians
can relate to that message as well.
“Jeff” is an odd movie. Many of the characters go to work,
but none of them do any actual work. Though it is Sharon’s birthday, her
children don’t seem to notice or care. None of the characters seem to know how
to talk to each other. Though everything wraps up in the end, the film feels
incomplete. The main story is about the two brothers. Sarandon’s side story, is
strange and isn’t necessary to the main story.
“Jeff” is a good film. Not great, but good. The first half
is very funny while the second half, while still funny, tries a little too hard
to be sentimental. Still, if you can get past all of the f-bombs, and the
worldly nature of the film, it is quite enjoyable.
(Originally posted on Examiner.com)
