Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • March 28, 2012 New film takes interesting, offbeat look at relationships by Dennis Seuling In “Jeff, Who Lives at Home,” the title character (Jason Segal) is a 30-something single guy who lives in the basement of his mother’s house. Emotionally stalled since the death of his father several years earlier, Jeff spends his days smoking marijuana and watching the movie “Signs,” convinced that his destiny will depend on recognizing and paying attention to portents. When Jeff receives a wrong-number phone call and the caller asks for Kevin, Jeff regards this as a sign. On a bus, he spots a kid with “Kevin” imprinted on the back of his jersey and spends the rest of the day following him. The kid gets off the bus and, later, Jeff hitches onto a truck with “Kevin Candy” written on its side. Jeff is convinced these are subtle signs of something. Jeff’s older brother, Pat (Ed Helms), lives in a small apartment with wife Linda (Judy Greer), works in a paint supply store, and wants to have as little to do with Jeff as possible. But Pat enlists the reluctant help of his brother to investigate when he sees Linda at a restaurant with a strange man and suspects she is having an affair. The brothers’ mom, Sharon (Susan Sarandon), an office worker frustrated by Jeff’s inability to focus, calls him several times a day, and is at the far end of her patience. Ed Helms and Jason Segal play brothers in ‘Jeff, Who Lives at Home.’ Writers/directors Jay and Mark Duplass (“Cyrus,” “Baghead”) have crafted a character-driven story about relationships, a feat that is becoming increasingly rare in American films. The movie has a non-rushed, leisurely pace as it introduces viewers to each of the three principal characters in turn. At first, each character is seen alone, which allows them to reveal more of themselves than people ordinarily do when others are around. At first, Jeff is a bit of a mystery. Is he merely a pothead and is the movie yet another stoner comedy, or is there more to him than what first appears? Pat is more clearly defined, since his life seems normal, though he is more troubled than he is willing to acknowledge. The Duplass brothers delve deeply into these two men to explore why they are who they are. There are amusing moments, to be sure, though “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” is not what you would call a rollicking slapstick romp. The film will bring many smiles, but its inherent humanity renders both Jeff and Pat genuine people who are just trying to make their way through life as best they can. Though on the surface complete opposites, their time together at a point of crisis draws out similarities. Surprisingly, Jeff offers some wisdom while Pat, the steady citizen, flounders. The best aspect of the movie is its authenticity. View- ers see people in embarrassing moments, watch them awkwardly attempt to navigate them, and are struck by the believability of their actions. Though the movie is clearly scripted, some scenes have a spontaneous, ad-lib feel, so that not every line is a setup for a punch line. Though this reduces the laughter quotient, it enhances the characters’ credibility. Segal’s Jeff -- called Sasquatch by brother Pat -- is a hulking man-boy with a laid-back innocence that is a product of too much weed and too little sense of purpose. Segal infuses comic touches throughout the movie, yet keeps the character grounded, never overdoing his performance for the laugh. His manner of speaking is calm, thoughtful, and lacks any trace of anger or indignation. This contrasts markedly with Helms’ Pat, a tightly-coiled spring initially blind to the fact that his marriage is deteriorating. Rated R, “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” contains some strong language, drug use, and a bit of violence, but is a refreshing alternative to the big-budget, CGI-driven extravaganzas that have lately been the primary choices at local multiplexes. At a streamlined 83 minutes, the film takes an interesting, offbeat look at relationships, highlighting the trials and foibles of folks trying to find meaning and happiness in their lives.