Maybe it is just me and I misread the trailers and promotion for OUR IDIOT BROTHER (Jesse Peretz, 2011) but this film has been completely marketed wrong, and I truly believe that it was even named incorrectly. And this is a shame, because I feel most audiences are going into this film thinking it's gonna be a broad comedy along the lines of the Apatow films and when it isn't they come away mostly disappointed. But this film is actually pretty good if you take away all pre-conceived notions about what you are walking into see.
The film is endearing and heartfelt, coming from a genuine place. The character of Ned (Paul Rudd) is truly one of the nice guys. Not so much an idiot, more naive than anything else. Ned is a believer of a world of inherent good living in a cynical world that has long ago pushed such thoughts aside. And Ned's qualities make him the antithesis to everyone, especially those in his family. And thats what the film ultimately is, a family film. Albeit, one of a strange hipster family from New York.
The overarching message for the narrative lies in family, and how a family struggles together and overcomes in the end by staying together. There are some funny moments but as I mentioned earlier, don't be fooled into thinking this is the direction of focus of the film. Finally (spoiler alert), why couldn't they name the film, simply, WILLIE NELSON?
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