"Third act failure" hobbles what might otherwise have been a rewarding black — or at least dark — comedy by sibling co-writer/directors Jay and Mark Duplass.
The filmmakers strike an interesting tone of dysfunctionality before letting the film melt into a puddle. John C. Reilly plays John, a divorced loser with the social skills of an orangutan.
After his ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) catches John masturbating in his lonely apartment, she invites him to accompany her and her new husband to a party. There John meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), a less obviously needy romantic counterpart, whose uncomfortable home life with her adult home-schooled son Cyrus (Johah Hill) she vainly tries to keep secret from John.
As John and Molly's romance develops Cyrus contrives a series of passive aggressive subterfuges that achieve the intended effect. Mostly.
"Cyrus" is a movie that gets you to root for damaged-good characters who never go far enough to save their own skins. The performances are enjoyable but the movie ultimately lets its audience down.
Rated R. 92 mins.
