Cyrus (2010)

Both John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill have spent the last few years heavily involved in the Apatow comedy circuit, yet those going in to Cyrus expecting a similarly raucous affair will be disappointed. As much a drama about loneliness, and family Cyrus is a gentle comedy at best, one that is sweet and strange and low-key, and all the better for it. 
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Reilly plays John, a divorced man whose life has been on a downward spiral in the years since the split. He still sees his ex (played warmly by the venerable Katherine Keener, who must have it in her contract to appear in every indie film at the moment) and her new husband. At their bequest he goes to a party one night and meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), the two get along and, much to John's surprise, start seeing each other. But there's a problem, Molly's son Cyrus, played with surprising menace and nuance by Jonah Hill. Right from the off there's something not quite right about Cyrus, and yet the film never takes the obvious route in making him either the villain, or one dimensional. He is manipulative, but insecure and afraid, his somewhat uncomfortable relationship with Molly evident in his behaviour.
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Again it is to the film's credit that it never goes for the big set piece, or over the top gags. It keeps it real and small as John cottons on to Cyrus's intentions and their competition escalates. All through this Hill and Reilly do great work, Hill in particular is a revelation, playing this disturbed and haunted man-child in a way that still elicits sympathy. Equally Reilly's ability to go from playing broad comedy, to sincere drama in a heartbeat serves him well here and his earnestness makes you route for John throughout. Despite this it is Tomei who arguably has the toughest role in the film, as she largely takes a backseat to the others, yet must remain convincing as the person they are effectively fighting over, something she does effortlessly. She is warm and sweet, but human as well, over protective and blinded to her son's problems, adorable as she is, she never fails to convince. 
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At the end of the day Cyrus is a small film, it has few characters and is more concerned with the little ways in which people relate to each other, and the ways we value our friends and family, than making any great point about the world. It is a funny film, but rarely laugh out loud, and it's not afraid to shy away from some of the darker sides of the emotional spectrum either. I enjoyed it for what it was, a refreshingly human comedy with something to say.