Review: Cyrus

Review: Cyrus

Rating: *

Nonna's Rating: $

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

Movies have, for the most part, been horrible this summer. Reviews of these same horrible movies, however, have often been extremely positive -- glowing, in fact. Have critics joined a vast cinema-graphic conspiracy to lure us into theaters showing dumbed-down movies made with A-list stars and no redeeming artistic value whatsoever?

That may sound paranoid, but allow me to pan Cyrus, a well-reviewed movie starring Marissa Tomei, John C. Reilly, Catherine Keener, and Jonah Hill -- all fine actors who do what they can to redeem this film.

Reilly plays John, a schlub of a man, divorced from his wife seven years before but still working with her and still far too emotionally attached. She (Jamie) is about to be remarried and is far too involved in John's life -- she desperately needs to read Co-Dependent No More.

Molly (Tomei) almost inexplicably falls hard for John when she meets him at a party. How could this happen? Well, Molly has an adult son, Cyrus (Hill), a manipulative young man who has managed to discourage his mother from forming relationships with men his whole life.

(Warning: if you plan to see this film, don't read any more. Plenty of spoilers)

The relationship of Cyrus and Molly is creepily Oedipal. The movie always pulls back from the brink, but the "ick" factor is always looming. John's relationship with Cyrus quickly degenerates; he's on to him almost from the beginning. And then, about 90 minutes into the movie, Cyrus has some sort of miraculous epiphany and realizes he needs to change. Cyrus, Molly, and John all embrace and we are asked to believe all will be well for this reconciled family.

Hold on! John does admit that he's had a role in the crazy dance they're doing, but he seems unaware that his relationship with his ex-wife is just as inappropriate as Cyrus's with his mother. And Cyrus and Molly definitely need some sort of therapy. The movie ended abruptly, but it needed another act. Granted, watching them all go through the hard work of coming to terms with their nuttiness would probably have been boring, but, at least, it would have been honest.

Nonna's Ratings:

$$$$ = Worth paying the Friday evening price
$$$= Worth paying the Matinee price
$$= Worth a rental
$ = Wait for cable
# = Skip it