Accismus

Jim (Casey Affleck) returns home for his quarterlife crisis. Resignedly ensconced in his parents’ Indiana home, he proceeds to be generally disgusted with his ever-cheerful mother (Mary Kay Place); to nudge his jealous brother, Tim, into attempted suicide; to become duped by his Uncle Evil into framing his parents for drug-smuggling; and to woo Anika (Liv Tyler), a nurse and single mom. Think Garden State without all the whimsical details and indie music.

Had this movie been made as an undergrad film student’s final project, I’d actually have been impressed. Since it’s directed by Steve Buscemi, however, I have to say, it’s not very good at all. There are some funny moments, but mostly the dark humor is awkwardly timed and unoriginal. Jim’s grand realization seems to be motivated more by the movie reaching the 60 minute mark than by anything that happens between the characters. And Casey Affleck (who granted is supposed to be completely flat of affect in the part) has less charisma than Kevin Costner starring in a biopic of Keanu Reeves (or vice-versa). Overall, there’s nothing really new here: the movie is about as unremarkable as quarterlife crises usually are.