Today I had the opportunity to sit down and watch “Our Idiot Brother” starring the ever-handsome Paul Rudd. It was humorous and lighthearted without being over-the-top hilarious or silly. The R-rated bits were hilarious and fitting, but I’m glad they didn’t overdo it. (Remember the movie Yes Man? It was a nice, somewhat inspirational film until they threw in the part with the old lady blowjob which just didn’t fit the story right, IMO).
I LOL’ed a few times and left the theater a happier person.
It got me to thinking about a subject I think about a lot lately: perspective.
Paul Rudd’s character, Ned, is a happy-go-lucky guy who trusts people a little too much, and as a result seems to continually fall upon hard luck. In fact, I don’t think he even notices the hard luck, it’s just life. He is a man who takes the world at face value without over-analyzing or over-interpreting everything. He isn’t the least bit defensive about all the crazy things that go on in his life (except when it comes to his beloved dog, Willie Nelson). He just is. He just does.
Of course, a person who just “is and does,” who goes out into the world without the least bit of fear of it can get themselves into some mighty strange situations.
But Ned teaches us all a little something about perspective, and finding the balance between being aloof and being a scaredy-cat. Learning to take the world at face value can relieve so much emotional and mental pressure, while having just a bit of a leery side can keep us safe.
He teaches us to be nice, to do what is right, to be true to the people you love and to be honest.
I love the Neds of the world.
I’d give the film a solid 3.5 / 5.