Our Idiot Brother

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Our Idiot Brother

R

2011

1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Easygoing, dimwitted slacker Ned Rochlin (Paul Rudd) makes the biggest mistake of his so-far uninspired life when he sells some pot to a cop. Homeless and jobless upon his release from jail, Ned must prevail upon his three sisters (Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer) for help. Though Ned himself is utterly without a shred of ambition or guile, it's a different story with his sisters, who find their carefully ordered lives thrown into chaos whenever he's around.

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Critics Consensus

It's decidedly uneven, but like Paul Rudd's performance in the title role, Our Idiot Brother is too charming to resist.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

11/03/2011

3.5/5

What I liked about the film is that there is a very good cast. I think all the women in the film are terrific actors.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

09/12/2011

C+

A pleasant-enough trifle that ensnares itself in the uneasy middle ground between indie drama and dumb-guy comedy.

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Alexis Loinaz

Chicago Tribune

09/03/2011

3.5/5

Rudd brings color and dimension to a borderline-simpleton schlub who could have easily become a one-note clich.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

10/29/2023

3/4

...a pervasively enjoyable piece of work that fares better than the majority of contemporary comedies.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/09/2023

3/4

Rudd’s performance and the lighthearted laughs make this an easygoing comedy, one whose laid-back protagonist and casual vibe are easily consumed, enjoyed, and fondly remembered.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/30/2020

7/10

Consistently pleasant, humorous, and agreeable, with plenty of supporting roles inhabited by well-known character actors.

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Rob A

@RT76386004 Feb 22

A decent comedy (with a terrific cast) about a layabout who gets arrested for selling pot to a UNIFORMED officer; his three dysfunctional sisters and a dog named "Willie Nelson." Worth a watch.

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Gene C

@RT07535100 Oct 1

Very funny and charming movie with great performances by Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zoey Dechanel, and others! I can't believe the audience low score either!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 27

Unfunny in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Nudity, Language Throughout and Sexual Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $24,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Aye E

@RT43717499 03/14/2025

The low ratings on this shock me. Maybe not enough people know hippie types like the main character and his ex-girlfriend and can appreciate how spot on the writing is. I felt like they conjured up people I've met over the years. Paul Rudd is more of an irresistible golden retriever in this than an actual dog. The mean passive-aggressive hippie chick played by Kathryn Hahn is spot on, she always makes me laugh. The cast is outstanding across the board, with Sterling K. Brown AND Adam Scott AND Elizabeth Banks AND Steve Coogan, (who also stars with Paul later in the also criminally underrated Ideal Home) who can resist? This is a great charming feel-good movie, easy to rewatch on a rainy day or when you just want to enjoy some pure Rudd.

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Jack S

@RT58840043 08/31/2024

Rudd is perfectly cast as an impossibly honest brother who innocently, but agreeably, disrupts the various lives of his three sisters. Our Idiot Brother is both sweet and amusing, if not particularly funny. It tends to meander a bit, but greatly benefits from an attractive and immensely likable cast. Banks, as one of Rudd’s sisters, is a particular standout.

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Ken T

@KenTurpin 06/25/2024

The cast makes this movie work! Paul Rudd is Lebowski reborn!

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Jesse Peretz

Director

Paul Rudd

Ned

Elizabeth Banks

Miranda

Zooey Deschanel

Natalie

Emily Mortimer

Liz

Kathryn Hahn

Janet

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Synopsis

Easygoing, dimwitted slacker Ned Rochlin (Paul Rudd) makes the biggest mistake of his so-far uninspired life when he sells some pot to a cop. Homeless and jobless upon his release from jail, Ned must prevail upon his three sisters (Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer) for help. Though Ned himself is utterly without a shred of ambition or guile, it's a different story with his sisters, who find their carefully ordered lives thrown into chaos whenever he's around.

Director: Jesse Peretz
Producer: Anthony Bregman, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub
Screenwriter: Evgenia Peretz, David Schisgall
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Big Beach, The Weinstein Company, Likely Story
Rating: R (Nudity|Language Throughout|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 26, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.8M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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