20th Philadelphia Film Festival - Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Family stuff and life in general is getting in the way of seeing as much as I want, and writing as much as I see. Which is why as great as it is to have a big film festival in your own backyard, it would be better to be here on vacation and experience all the films without so many interruptions.

I was glad to make the second screening of Jeff, Who Lives at Home, particularly since the director was available for another Q & A. Well, co-director, this film is by another team of writer/director brothers. Not the Farrelly Bros. or the Coen Bros. It's the Duplass Brothers - Mark and Jay (The Puffy Chair, Baghead, Cyrus).

Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a good bit more out and out comedy, compared to Cyrus. Mostly due to its lead, a bigger and dopier than usual, Jason Segel. Segal plays a 30-something pothead who still lives in his mother's (Susan Sarandon) basement. He hasn't had a girlfriend in years and no mention is made of the last time he held gainful employment.

He is however, still hopeful about his life. He's not lethargic, just unsure what he wants to do. He belives in waiting for a sign. That sign comes in the form of a wrong number for someone named Kevin; which sets Jeff off on a days adventure that winds up involving his brother Pat (Ed Helms) who's rather an ass, but let's say vexing, and Pat's on the rocks marriage to Linda (Judy Greer). Intersperesed is a side story involving Jeff & Pat's mom (Sarandon) finding out she has a secret admirer at work.

On the whole, it's an entertaining quasi-road-buddy-comedy with heart. At the Q & A an audience member asked if Mark and Jay have a spiritual center? Do they believe in fate, destiny signs etc... Mark replied (paraphrased) that he wished he was a bit more like the character of Jeff in some ways, but personal philosophy wasn't the origins for the story.

Watch the below Q & A video of Mark Duplass as he also answers the questions of going from small budget films like Baghead to their last two films with bigger budgets and bigger named actors and also which of the brothers does the bulk of the work.

Part of the fun of a film festival is talking to people after a screening. I met this couple Andy and Sandy Ehrlich on the bus as we were all traveling from The Prince after Jeff, Who Lives at Home to the screening of Butter at Ritz East. Last year, they were part of Ruth Perlmutter's team of screeners to decide on jury prize for best new director. This year they are just enjoying the festival at their leisure.