Our Idiot Brother (2011)

A comedy centered on an idealist who barges into the lives of his three sisters.

Director:

Jesse Peretz

Writers:

Jesse Peretz (story), Evgenia Peretz (story)

Stars:

Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Rudd	...	Ned
Nick Sullivan	...	Customer
Francesca Papalia	...	Sadie
Bob Stephenson	...	Officer Washburn
Elizabeth Banks	...	Miranda
Peter Hermann	...	Terry
Adam Scott	...	Jeremy
Kelly Briter	...	Girl with Jeremy
Rashida Jones	...	Cindy
Zooey Deschanel	...	Natalie
Emily Mortimer	...	Liz
Steve Coogan	...	Dylan
Kathryn Hahn	...	Janet
T.J. Miller	...	Billy
Shirley Knight	...	Ilene

Storyline

Ned lived a happy life growing organic vegetables on a farm with his hippie girlfriend and his dog named Willie Nelson, but an unadvised incident with marijuana at a farmer's market lands him in jail. When he gets out of jail, he is off to live with his sisters. While Ned is still happy, his sisters are much less so after his honest, but unworldly manner contributes to revelations which manage to expose infidelity in one marriage, potentially illegal actions in one job opportunity, dishonesty in one budding relationship and morally unpleasant behaviour in one domestic partnership. He sees those problems as breakdowns in communication, but his sisters see him as an idiot. The truth the audience witness is that ultimately, Ned is a catalyst for good around him without consciously setting out to do so. The denouement of the film sees balance restored with a positive outcome for all in the family.

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Plot Keywords:

nude model | art model | jail | three sisters | farmer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content including nudity, and for language throughout

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Idiot Brother

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,011,631 (USA) (26 August 2011)

Gross:

$24,809,547 (USA) (11 November 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weinstein Company, The, Big Beach Films, Likely Story

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elizabeth Banks and Paul Rudd, who play siblings in this movie, played a couple in Role Models (2008) and Wet Hot American Summer (2001).

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Goofs

When at the ice cream shop he asks for a sample of Acai Berry but Paul Rudd says something different.

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Quotes

Miranda: You're wearing plastic shoes, and what is this shirt made out of?
Liz: It's flax.
Miranda: See? I mean, isn't that a food? You're wearing food.

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Crazy Credits

Bloopers and outtakes shown during the closing credits.

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Connections

References Lassie (1994)

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Soundtracks

Taking You With Me
Written by Daniel Tashian
Performed by Daniel Tashian and Mindy Smith

User Reviews

A sweet comedy about family and life.

This movie IS a comedy. There are many types of comedy and you don't have to laugh out loud the whole time for it to be a comedy. The movie is funny, charming, and very cute.

It really isn't about Ned's philosophy of expecting the best of others and seeing the good in them because even thought some people don't, and it can hurt you, more people do and everyone is better for it. It's about family dynamics, life choices, and learning to accept your own actions.

By accepting responsibility for your own actions you are able to free yourself to be more accepting of other people despite their flaws. Because we all have flaws.

Ned is less of a protagonist and more of a catalyst for change in his sisters' lives. The only reason I don't give this movie a 9 star rating is because the ending is a little on the weak side. They could have stopped the movie a few minutes earlier and it would have been stronger.