O Idiota do Nosso Irmão (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 | lesbian kiss | art model | mother son relationship | lesbian | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

M/16

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2012 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

O Idiota do Nosso Irmão

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 USA:

$7,011,631, 28 August 2011, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$24,814,830, 20 November 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Beach Films,Likely Story,The Weinstein Company

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 Modelos Nada Correctos (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

Ned: This is like free therapy. New York State cares.

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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

Cool Yourself
Written by Thao Nguyen
Performed by Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (as Thao with the Get Down Stay Down)
Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars
By arrangement with Terrorbird Media

User Reviews

Sweet

As I write this review at the end of August, 2011, I realize it's my last one of a good summer, and the movie, Our Idiot Brother, is a good movie. It's a light-hearted, low-key comedy about a hippie brother Ned (Paul Rudd) returning home from prison for selling pot to a uniformed policeman.

That little episode that put him in jail is not only humorous because of Ned's naiveté but also because of his big heart that would empathize with the seemingly depressed cop and sell him the weed. Ned is a sweet idealist who believes the best about his fellow humans and rarely is disappointed. Although he has been a biodynamic farmer but now doesn't have a job, his real job is turning his family honest, sister by sister, without even trying, without even knowing that his Ibsen-like Wild Duck openness has changed lives for the better.

For instance, when he forces his sister Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) to be honest with her publisher about a source for an important story, she eventually is better for the setback. A little like Forrest Gump with less cluelessness, Ned changes things with the force of his own honesty.

His three sisters are not wicked witches; they're just New Yorkers who have lost their way in marriage, sexual orientation, or plain old occupation. Director Jesse Peretz keeps the cast underplaying as he allows the ripening of their lives through the gentle ministrations of this child-like brother.

While I always favor the outré Royal Tenenbaums or eccentric Little Miss Sunshine, it's pleasant to experience a relatively mild comedy about family dysfunction and want more.