Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a very flawed film. If one looks too closely at the seams, it will unravel in the blink of an eye. It’s also my favorite film of 2012 so far. This might seem like an insult to this year in film, but with new films from Wes Anderson, PIXAR, Joss Whedon and Ridley Scott, it is anything but. The innate problem with Jeff, Who Lives at Home is rooted in everyone’s own beliefs. It’s a film about fate and destiny, and therefore blurs the line between contrivances and plot mechanics. You’ll either think the film is offensively implausible and totally pretentious, or you’ll think it’s surprisingly sweet and that the “contrivances” are the point of the film. Either way, it’s worth a shot.
The film follows Jeff during the course of one day as he tries to run one simple errand but gets needlessly distracted by “signs from the universe.” Jeff is a very kind man, and he believes that everything happens for a reason and that the only way to uncover your destiny is to follow the signs the universe lays out for you. He’s also 30-something years old, living in his mother’s basement and has quite a recreational drug habit. His older brother Pat is the antithesis of Jeff. He is materialistic, self-absorbed and very cynical. However Pat also does have a job, a wife and a home of his own. Needless to say, they don’t get along very well.
This is a film that sneaks up on you. It seems aimless and meandering, but the whole time it is building towards something. Whether you call that fate or coincidence, is up to you. It’s one of the most uplifting films I’ve seen in a long time. The opening scene is an important one, as it lays out exactly how the film will unfold, but that’s easy to miss on your first viewing. Jeff, Who Lives at Home has a little bit of everything, so I highly recommend it. As long as you check your reservations at the door.
View the theatrical trailer below and find the DVD in our collection!
