CYRUS

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"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.