Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Movie Name: Jeff Who Lives at Home

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

Stars: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Judy Greer, Susan Sarandon, Rae Dawn Chong, Steve Zissis, Evan Ross, Matt Malloy, Joe Chrest

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

After expanding their visibility with the comedy "Cyrus", the Duplass brothers are back with "Jeff Who Lives at Home". The film follows the story of eternal slacker and pothead Jeff, who is 30 and lives in his mom's basement. Jeff believes that everything in life has a purpose, a meaning and that nothing occurs out of a coincidence. He sets out to finish a task assigned by his mom, and ends up connecting with his brother, going through a meltdown of his own, and with his own mother, who is trying to find meaning to her own life, now that she's getting older.
"Jeff Who Lives at Home" is a small film, filled with a glimmer of home and optimism, something that Jason Segel embodies perfectly with his eternal look of a man-child. Jeff is a young man whose life holds little meaning for himself and for his family, but who's trying to live beyond his small universe. The people in his sphere are trying to somehow bring some meaning and feeling to their lives - his brother who listens to no one, and ultimately cares about no one, and his mother, who after years of being alone, has reached a point where she simply feels trapped in her life. The film does a good job of presenting the search for a meaningful life and meaningful relationships with a sense of irony and great humor, which permeates all the situations of the film. The high point of "Jeff Who Lives at Home" is the cast, with Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Judy Greer and Susan Sarandon all creating heartfelt characters who are flawed and ultimately human. A film worth watching.