John (John C. Reilly) and Jamie (Catherine Keener) have been divorced for seven years. He never got over that. And now she is getting married again. John is upset, so to help him, Jamie takes him to a party where he eventually meets a woman who wants to talk to him. And do more than talk. She (Marisa Tomei) turns out to be the perfect woman for him. So perfect that after she leaves in the middle of the night after their second night together he decides to follow her home.
Yeah, that’s not cool. And sitting outside her house all night, and then poking around her property. Even less cool.
But he meets Molly’s son, Cyrus (Jonah Hill) and gets invited inside. Then he gets to stay for dinner. Things seem to be going really well. But the next morning his shoes are missing. Is that a symptom of a deeper problem? And are Molly and Cyrus just a little too close?
As a film Cyrus works well. It is slow, taking its time, and it builds on little incidents. It is billed as a comedy, but its more of a drama with added black humour. In fact if I wanted to see a comedy and got this I’d be quite disappointed.
But I had a huge problem with the actual plot of the film. Molly is set up as this prize that the two men, John and Cyrus, battle over. She is what they want and they have to sort it out between themselves, she is given no real role to play in that. She has no agency with regard to what role she will play in their games. And her obliviousness to Cyrus’ scheming doesn’t really paint her in the best light.
I had recorded this when it was on the telly, but the recording ended a few minutes from the ending, so I can’t actually say what the final scene was. However, based on the wikipedia summary I only missed 1 minute or thereabouts.
Man, I wish I remembered more about this movie. It’s been a handful of years since I’ve seen it. Reading your recap, though, reminds me of how vapid Marisa Tomei’s character was, which is a shame because she CAN play a role with presence. Too bad she was wasted! Much as I love John C. Reilly, it is HIGHLY unlikely he would have gotten her attention at all, let alone right out of the chute. No way. (Have we had this conversation before? ha :)) I would much prefer seeing a movie with him and Catherine Keener (whom I adore absolutely) as a couple because it would be 1-funny and 2-actually plausible.
Yeah, I would’ve liked more between Reilly & Keener. But also the way he treated her just showed what a self-obsessed character he was. She was busy moving on with her life, planning a wedding, and he wants to go spend hours talking about his missing shoes! And ring her in the middle of the night! that’s asshole behaviour right there.
Did you ever see Hamlet 2? Hah! Catherine Keener played the estranged wife of Steve Coogan. Talk about self-obsessed assholes! She might need a new agent. (Extremely funny movie, though.) :)
I did see Hamlet 2, I have vague recollections of it, I’m afraid I don’t think I enjoyed it all that much. Love Coogan though, especially as Alan Partridge.
No love for “Rock me, Sexy Jesus?” Hee. I love Steve Coogan pretty much all the time, including as Alan Partridge.
I don’t remember that, to be honest, and usually if I didn’t enjoy a film (and didn’t hate it) my memory of it dims. But yes, Coogan is great.