JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME—-we all know some slackers, and can relate to at least one who’s an extra-sad case because they’ve got heart to go with their dithering and drifting (“Too bad about___”). This 2011 quirk comedy, written & directed by brothers Mark and Jay Duplass speaks to those lost in the landscape, and manages to be clever, endearing, both sweet and tart, mingling a few deft twists along its 83-minute tour of JeffWorld.
Jeff (the disarming Jason Segel) smokes too much weed and sees signs in events that others don’t. Mom (Susan Sarandon) is frustrated: by Jeff in the basement, by dullness at work and by being lonely in the love arena. Brother ‘Pat’ (Ed Helms), who thinks Jeff sounds like Yoda on acid, has a marriage on the skids. Made for a trim $7,500,000, it garnered positive write-ups, but only found $4,705,000 from the slacker public. Pay a little attention to Jeff, you might be surprised. With Judy Greer, Rae Dawn Chong, Steve Zissis and Evan Ross.