Day 344 of the challenge! Flawed people trying to fix their flawed lives. Simple premise, but Jeff Who Lives at Home quirks it up real nice!
Another day, another endearing indie dramedy with a heart of gold. It’s hard not to fall these types of films when they all offer so much heart and awkward laughter. Jeff Who Lives at Home is very standard in that regards, and only has a chance of standing out thanks to Jason Segel and Ed Helms having some great chemistry as mismatched brothers.
This late in the challenge, it’s hard for any of these indie dramedies to really surprise me. They really all do rely on the actors’ performances to stand a chance, no matter how quirky and cute the stories may be. They’re all structured similarly, shot to look the same way, and usually have some profound meaning about life driving them. Plus, about 90% of them feature poor Judy Greer playing an unsatisfied housewife or mother. Seriously, someone please help her out of the pit of suburban mediocrity she’s been typecast in!
Again, it’s Jason Segel and Ed Helms that really makes Jeff Who Lives at Home stand out in the endless void of indie dramedies out there. You’ll laugh a few times, cringe in others, get slapped with a sudden burst of intense emotion, and then smile as things end on a nice (if bittersweet) note.