First Hit: Although I didn’t anticipate much, this film was touching and more interesting than I originally thought.
Jeff (Jason Segel) lives at home. He’s over 30 years old, watches the film “Signs” often, smokes a lot of pot, and is totally lost in his life.
Trying to find his way, he looks for his own signs that will give him a clearer picture of what he needs to do with his life. Jeff is a pacifist and mourns the loss of his father.
His brother Pat (played by Ed Helms) is struggling in his marriage to Linda (Judy Greer) and is trying to spice his life up with a new car. Jeff and Pat’s mother Sharon (played by Susan Sarandon) works in an office, doesn’t know how to motivate her son Jeff and is being admired by someone in her office.
Jeff gets a call from someone who is asking for “Kevin”. There is no Kevin so Jeff, while on an errand for his mom, leaves the house and then runs into a young man with “Kevin” written on his shirt. He thinks it is a sign. He eventually runs into his brother Pat.
Pat on the other hand, has bought a Porsche which he and his wife cannot afford because he thinks he’s missing out on life. They run into Linda who is meeting up with a male friend. Sad that Pat doesn’t talk with or listen to her any longer, she ends up in a hotel room with him.
Then Sharon getting anonymous instant messages from someone at the office has her in an emotional tizzy. The ingredients are interesting and result in a very nice finale.
Segel is very good as Jeff the wayward slacker lost in life. Helms is good as the highly wound-up brother who just wants something different in his life and doesn’t see he needs to look within. Sarandon is wonderful as the lost mother of two boys who are on their own unhealthy paths. Greer is great as the wife who has had enough and wants things to change. It was very nice to see Rae Dawn Chong again in her role as Sharon’s office friend. Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass co-wrote and co-directed this pleasantly interesting and engaging film.
Overall: This is a thoughtful and interesting film.