"Cyrus" Review

When I first saw the trailer for "Cyrus," it looked like an odd, original comedy, but with a cynical, smug tone. After seeing the film, I can safely say that the film is definitely odd, original, and funny, but thankfully its tone is warm and sweet - without an ounce of cynical sarcasm or irony.

The film follows John (John C. Reilly), a depressed bachelor still getting over his divorce from seven years prior. While attending a party with his ex-wife (Catherine Keener) and her new fiance, he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), a kind woman whose gentility and comforting personality attract John. Once John and Molly enter into a relationship, he meets Cyrus (Jonah Hill), Molly's twenty-something son. Cyrus, a budding musician, still lives at home and has a very close bond with his mother. While Cyrus initially seems okay with Molly and John's relationship, it soon becomes apparent that Cyrus is not so keen on sharing Molly with her new lover.

"Cyrus" mainly works as a study of the complex relationship between the three main characters. Marisa Tomei beautifully highlights Molly's maternal sensibilities, comforting both Cyrus and John with her genuine warmth and sympathy. Reilly wonderfully displays John's earnest nature, as well as his inept, awkward way of dealing with complicated situations. And, finally, Jonah Hill taps into Cyrus's strange, needy, manipulative behavior. While Hill sometimes slips into broad comedy, he mostly strikes the right tone for his character.

While "Cyrus"beautifully illustrates the complicated nature of its characters' relationships, many scenes feel redundant and unnecessary. By the film's second act, the audience is fully aware that Cyrus believes John is infringing on his territory, yet the movie insists on reiterating that fact several times. The film's dialogue also comes off as blunt in parts. While direct, honest discussion about feelings and emotion works for the film's character, the dialogue becomes too heavy-handed by the time the film reaches its final scenes. It's almost as if directors Jay and Mark Duplass are too afraid to let the audience interpret the character's feelings for themselves. Instead, they let the film's final act turn into a huge group therapy session. But not all of it is bad. The actors involved manage to imbue the final scenes with enough subtlety to make up for the script's heavy- handed dialogue.

But, perhaps most importantly, the film retains a light, earnest tone throughout. If the film had opted for smug cynicism or glossy superficiality, it would not have had the same effect. Thus, despite its flaws, "Cyrus" makes for a fascinating study of an unusual relationship.

B