Cyrus

Cyrus is a movie caught in some weird, in between place that makes the viewer feel a bit icky inside.

John C. Reilly stars as John - a man who hasn't recovered from his divorce, and still remains friends with the ex-wife, Jamie (Catherine Keener). Now, she's getting remarried, and wants to help the guy move on with his life, so she forces John to attend an engagement party, where he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei). The two seem perfect for each other, and she might be the only woman on the planet who finds his weirdness charming, but one thing stands in the way of their happiness - her unusually close relationship with her grown son, Cyrus (Jonah Hill).

Can Cyrus and John find détente so each can love Molly?

At times, Cyrus plays like a big, goofy, summer blockbuster comedy about two rivals attempting to outdo each other in the most ridiculous, Will Ferrell-inspired ways possible.

At other times, Cyrus is an indie film all about angst and ready to explode at a moment's notice.

Sadly, the two sides cause a conflict in tone that harms the movie.

Writers/directors Jay and Mark Duplass come up with some hilarious dialogue, especially as they develop the creepy, uncomfortable relationship between Cyrus and his mom that makes you cringe in the right way. They take too long to get to the big battle between Cyrus and John, but, once they do, it gives Hill and Reilly chances to make us laugh.

Yet, Cyrus needs to have a better defined tone. The audience is left to wonder what they are seeing on the screen as Hill bounces between giving off a childish vibe and a serial killer vibe, and John C. Reilly varies between hero and obnoxious guy. I often found myself on the verge of laughing, only to be turned off by the twist or line of dialogue that came out of left field. Sometimes, we want to be surprised, but these surprises come from making the wrong decision and make the movie heavier than it needs to be.

Sure, Cyrus is different and doesn't always take the mainstream path, but it should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque.

Cyrus is rated R for language and some sexual material.