Jesse Peretz's 'Our Idiot Brother' is a decent watch, but what stands tall in this film, is, without a shed of doubt, Paul Rudd's lovable performance in the central role. The actor has never been so convincing before!

'Our Idiot Brother' tells the story of an idealistic man who intrudes and wreaks havoc in each of his three sisters' lives.

The film begins well, dips in the middle, but luckily, culminates properly. As said, it's a decent watch, that never really bores or loses it's pace. Evgenia Peretz & David Schisgall's Screenplay is good, but it could've been better, especially post 40-minutes. Jesse Peretz Directs this comedy-drama, ably. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are fair.

Performance-Wise: Paul Rudd delivers his careers most lovable/convincing performance in here. He literally owns the film. As his sisters, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer & Zooey Deschanel, are first-rate. Kathryn Hahn is perfect. Rashida Jones is passable. Steve Coogan is as usual. Others lend support.

On the whole, 'Our Idiot Brother' is a time-pass fare. A must watch for Rudd fanatics.

'OUR IDIOT BROTHER': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

This sweet hearted indie comedy doesn't have a bad bone in it's body. It's the type of film that can really inspire people to want to do good just by relating to their most simple good sided human nature. Paul Rudd stars in the film, in his most likable role to date as well as one of the most lovable comical heroes to come along in a while. The film was directed by Jesse Peretz, who also directed the Zach Braff/Jason Bateman 2007 dark comedy film 'THE EX'. (This film is definitely a change in tone from that one). The story was conceived by Jesse and his sister Evgenia and the screenplay was written by Evgenia and her husband David Schisgall. They wrote the film with their buddy Rudd in mind for the lead. Frequent Rudd co-stars Elizabeth Banks and Rashida Jones co-star in the film as well as Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Adam Scott, T.J. Miller and many other familiar faces. The film was one of the quickest productions in film history but it's not any less impressive due to it's hastiness. Things just came together really well the filmmakers say and it shows on screen.

Rudd plays Ned who as the film opens is living with his girlfriend Janet (Kathryn Hahn) on a biodynamic farm selling produce at the local farmers' market and weed on the side.  One day he's busted for selling cannabis to a uniformed police officer after he's tricked in to feeling sorry for him.  After spending 8 months in prison he returns home to find Janet living with another man (Miller).  She tells him to leave cold heartedly and even refuses to let him have his dog 'Willie Nelson'.  Ned first turns to his mother for a place to stay but then quickly becomes a burden to his three sisters as well (Banks, Deschanel and Mortimer).  Each has their own personal problems which Ned delves himself in to.  His naive trustingness of everyone and overwhelming honesty get him in to more trouble and causes problems with his entire family as well.

Paul Rudd is at his most likable and his performance really makes the movie.  The supporting cast is all good as well but it's Rudd that really makes the material work.  The script is pretty clever and heartfelt to begin with and Peretz directs it well but the filmmakers really knew what they were doing when they modeled it after Rudd.  There's something really inspiring and emotional about a character like Ned, almost in the same way as a 'Forrest Gump' or 'Rain Man' but I don't think Ned is mentally challenged in anyway.  He's seen as an idiot by others (including his own family) but that's just because he's so trusting and loving of others.  Ned's whole theory on life is that if you're always open and trusting of others, and truly put them to that test, they'll usually come through.  That's a really optimistic and positive way of going through life and some would say foolish but I disagree.  Of course many would see it as a weakness and try to take advantage of a person like that but in the end I think it's still worth it (by all the good you do).  I could really relate to the Ned character; I tend to be really trusting and open with others and also sometimes overly honest.  He ends up getting in a lot of trouble (by pissing his family and friends off) through sharing things people say about each other in private (and behind the others' back).  This is something I can really relate to.  There's a nickname for this I've heard and like called 'diarrhea of the mouth'.  I've tried to improve my weakness in this area and am not quite as clueless about it as Ned but I think sometimes this too can be as much a benefit as harm.  If you're really open and honest sometimes you end up sharing things about others they don't want shared as well but it can often be a good thing whether they realize it at first or not.  I'm sure many audience members will miss the point of the movie and still see Ned as an idiot because of the seemingly clueless havoc he causes but he does so much more good than harm despite his flaws and I think he's a true inspiration to us all.  Everyone should be like Ned.

Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EojWnKxpY94

Ned (Paul Rudd) is the idiot brother. He's a sweet and trusting soul who actually sold weed to an uniform cop because he trusted and wanted to help the cop. After his release from jail, his girlfriend Janet (Kathryn Hahn) kicks him out of his home. Worse of all, she takes his dog. So he must live with his mother (Shirley Knight),or his sisters each with her own dysfunctional relationship.

The sisters are played by Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, and Emily Mortimer. That's a great threesome. There are some hilarious moments. But what makes this really work is Ned's complete loveability. His sweet soul would infuriate each sister in turn, causing chaos in their relationships, but ultimately making each a better person.

Rashida Jones also stars as a lesbian lover with giant glasses. I wonder if she really needs those glasses. And I was very tempted to lower the rating for making me see Steve Coogan's balls.