OUR IDIOT BROTHER Blu-ray Review

Our Idiot Brother refers to Ned (Paul Rudd), a modern day hippie whose closest relationship is with his estranged dog, Willie Nelson. Circumstances force Ned to leave Willie Nelson with his ex-girlfriend Janet (Kathryn Hahn) as Ned is forced to impose for lodgings on his three sisters.  Ned is only somewhat of an idiot; his honesty and belief in the inherent good of other people place him on parole from prison and forced to live with his sisters. Ned finds himself being pawned off from one sister to another as he inadvertently exposes the lies and deceptions that his sisters have woven into their lives. Ned’s only real idiocy is his trust in others and his failure to cover up their lies.

Our Idiot Brother Blu-ray

Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Year: 2011

Rated: R

Film Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1080p High Definition Widescreen (1.78:1)

Audio: English DTS-HD 5.1

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Release Date: November 29, 2011

The Movie

Ned is not really an idiot, as Paul Rudd notes in the documentary of the making of this film; Our Idiot Brother does not describe Ned’s identity so much as it explains how Ned’s sisters think of him. Ned is doing his best to get his life together after his release from prison. Ned’s sister Liz (Emily Mortimer) is married to a documentary film director Dylan (Steve Coogan). Ned assists Dylan for a time and bonds with their son, River (Matthew Mindler). Ned’s sister Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) is a struggling journalist with no real romantic prospects and a guy pal Jeremy (Adam Scott). Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) is bisexual in a committed relationship with Cindy (Rashida Jones) when Ned adds complications to her life.

Our Idiot Brother is an amusing film with a terrific cast. The character of Ned is kind of a cross between Forrest Gump and The Big Lebowski. Ned’s efforts to help as his sisters’ plans unravel is the chief attraction of the film, other than the great cast of actors. Our Idiot Brother is a slickly produced film with an indy film vibe.

Video

The movie is in 1080p high definition in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Contrast is excellent with only some minor DNR and no major compression issues. The picture is virtually free of grain but there is no apparent loss of contrast that typically accompanies overuse of digital tools.  This is a nice transfer of the film as it probably appeared in its theatrical version.

Audio

The default English DTS-HD 5.1 track does not suffer from any perceptible flaws. The audio may not rise to reference quality but it is equally immune to criticism for its lack of defects. Directional audio is used nicely during several portions of the film.

Special Features

The special features include the following:

Commentary by director Jesse Peretz: Peretz speaks enthusiastically and knowledgeably about scripting, casting, and production issues in a commentary that is recommended to fans of the film.

Deleted and Extended Scenes(8:55): These scenes include an alternate ending plus a subplot that was cut from the film.

Making Of Our Idiot Brother(14:36): This is a pleasant behind the scenes documentary with interviews from the cast members.

Trailers for Dirty Girl(2:28) and Submarine(2:13) play automatically prior to the main menu.

Conclusion

Our Idiot Brother is a fun popcorn film. Paul Rudd conveys geniality in most of his roles, and he is cast well here as the title character. The video and audio on this Blu-ray edition are consistent with the quality of the film itself, perhaps not exceptional but not bad either. The special features are interesting and informative, not merely filler as on many other releases. Anyone who enjoys the film will find time spent well with the special features. Many of the actors and actresses in this film have appeared together in other films and television shows, and it is interesting to see them play off each other here in different roles. Our Idiot Brother is an intriguing meditation on the lies people create in their personal and professional lives, and the consequences, or lack thereof, that may result when those deceptions come undone.