Director: Jesse Peretz
Writers: Evgenia Peretz & David Schisgall
Starring: Paul Rudd, Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, Steve Coogan, TJ Miller, Hugh Dancy
After his naivete lands him in jail for selling marijuana to a uniformed officer, Ned (Rudd) tries to get back on his feet again with the help of his three sisters (Deschanel, Banks, & Mortimer). However, his particular brand of thought-lacking honesty soon makes them think he might be more trouble to have around than he's worth.
I didn't really know what to expect going into this film, but I was pleasantly surprised. While it gets off to a pretty slow start (and gives the impression that it'll be the standard Paul Rudd comedy), that quickly changes in the second act. This shift from "let's laugh at Paul Rudd being ridiculous" to "family imploding because of the consequences" couldn't have been handled better...aside from the film's marketing, but that's another story. Jones and Deschanel have better onscreen chemistry than a lot of heterosexual couples, and the dynamic in general between the four siblings is utterly superb. Coogan kind of seems like he's plopped into the movie from real life, but he's really the only weak point castwise. In the beginning of the third act, Rudd really brings it home, and proves he can join the ranks of Carrey and Sandler as comedic actors capable of a serious turn now and again. B
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