Cyrus

Not Just Your Average Dramedy

The bond between a single mother and her son is iron clad wouldn’t you say? Well this is definitely the case in Cyrus. John (John C. Reilly) is a forty-something divorcee trying to get over the feelings he has for his ex-wife. In an effort to put himself out there, he struts his stuff at a party only to meet a beautiful woman named Molly (Marisa Tomei). The two hit the ground running and find they are made for one another, but there’s just one sticky factor in the equation, Molly has a 21 year old son Cyrus (Jonah Hill) living with her who does NOT want or need another man interfering in their so-called-life. Cyrus will do everything in his power to chase away John, but in the end love will conquer all, or does it??

Upon renting Cyrus I had geared myself up for a light comedy involving Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly. After about the first ten minutes however, I began to realize that this movie was a lion dressed in sheep’s clothing, a sham, a big fat lie. Ok, so maybe I’m exaggerating, but there wasn’t anything lighthearted about this movie. It’s quite a serious film that deals with a typical but nevertheless difficult relationship between a single mother and her child. Sounds like a movie that could potentially tug at your heartstrings right? Wrong. The movie was bland at best. Filled with awkward moments, and schemes a-plenty, but that was it. I waited in anticipation for some event or experience that caused Cyrus’ irrational and somewhat psychotic attachment to his mother. Or for a big eruption of emotion and feelings from Jonah Hill’s character and it just never came. The film has the framework of a real piece of art, but in the end I felt it was awkward and well, boring. I will say though, that both Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly gave a pretty good performance in the niche of drama, that isn’t something you would expect from them. My advice: Watch the movie if you like the actors, just don’t expect a comedy or anything with a lot of “guts” to it, because Cyrus was to me, a movie without a lot of soul.

Motherly Advice: I had my filters set on medium for Cyrus and was spared a whole lot of the *f* words, also a number of other swear words including some religious expletives. I was also spared a few inappropriate sex scenes. What I was not spared was seeing Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly in their “tighty whiteys” and let me say that these scenes were uncomfortable and completely unnecessary! This film has a lot of alcoholic consumption and drunkenness. Not a movie made for kids or even teens. Because of the heavy thematic content of Cyrus, I would recommend this movie for ages 18 and up.

Trisha~ Still in search of a dramedy with some REAL depth!