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About fifteen minutes into Cyrus, the title character makes an aside, words to this effect: “I’m joking. I have a really weird sense of humor.” This could have been the movie’s tag line. While some people will find Cyrus occasionally hilarious and strangely moving, as I did, others may find the movie uncomfortable or odd. But for those who understand the filmmakers’ weird sense of humor, this comedic character study offers a refreshingly authentic and exceptionally well acted slice of life.

John C. Reilley plays John, a loser who, in his own words, is in a downward spiral since his wife left him seven years ago. His ex (Catherine Keener), tries to coax John out of his slump by inviting him to a party where there will be interesting and attractive women. Everything goes horribly until John gets drunk and makes an improbable connection Molly (Marissa Tomei), who seems out of his league. After a couple dates and a couple of days, John stalks Molly back to her home where he meets Cyrus (Jonah Hill), a 21-year-old (“almost 22″) man-child who lives with his mother, with whom he has an uncomfortably close relationship. The remainder of the story is a battle of wills between John and the dysfunctional Cyrus for Molly’s affection. Read the rest of this entry →