‘Cyrus’ is the product of the fruitful marriage of Indie cinema and the Hollywood machine. Unquestionably a Fox Searchlight picture it sets out the lives of two unmarried/divorced 40-odds and throws in a slightly psychotic son to that picture. It’s not exactly the ‘Squid and the Whale’ with Damien, but if you can imagine that picture written and directed by Noah Baumbach, then you’re not a million miles off.
John C Reilly once again displays his miraculous ability to attract women (this time Catherine Keener and Marisa Tomei) but once this leap of faith is taken then the film can be quite rewarding, although, typical of mumblecore filmmaker, deeply frustrating. Cyrus (played by Jonah Hill who is so perfectly spherical that in itself it seems like the work of some malign force) is Marisa Tomei’s son and he is, without wanting to spoil the film, a bit fucked up.
It goes nowhere. Very little happens along the way. Everyone is neurotic and self-obsessed and when taken out of the context of the film, deeply unlikable. However like all of this wave of middle class, suburban, comedies-that-aren’t-funny, dramas-that-aren’t-dramatic it’s not completely loathsome, getting by on being a class above the average Apatow-farm comedy.
If you hate this type of film, one that continues to invade vaguely independent cinemas, then this is not for you. Even if you like that then it won’t blow your mind, but then again you couldn’t really expect it to, could you?
The Clapper Bored 