Jeff Who Lives at Home (2012)

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Synopsis (spoilers)

Jeff (Jason Segel) still lives at his mother's home. All day long, he smokes marijuana and likes to have nothing on his plate. What really gets him active is the M Night Shyamalan film Signs. Jeff sits around, talking into a tape recorder about the brilliance of the film, and its message about there being a reason for everything. He often wonders about his own destiny- where is he going? What is he meant to do? Jeff stops recording and flushes the toilet.

One day, a phone-call comes in for a wrong number, asking for someone named "Kevin." This clearly triggers something within Jeff's head, as he starts looking at the name Kevin as if it were an anagram. While trying to discover the meaning behind this seemingly unimportant occurrence, he gets a call from his mother Sharon (Susan Sarandon), who is frustrated on her Birthday. Jeff's lazy ass has been smoking up her basement for long enough, so she employs him to go out and get some wood glue, to fix a broken shutter in the family room. Jeff eventually gives in and reluctantly exits into the outside world.

On the other side of town, Pat (Ed Helms), Jeff's older brother, has a surprise for his wife Linda (Judy Greer). He bought a brand-spanking-new Porche! Of course, this is to the dismay of his wife, who has mentioned time and time again her reservations about this purchase. But Pat being Pat, did it anyway. This obviously doesn't go well, as his wife tosses her breakfast onto the hood of the new car. Things are not well at the homefront.

While on the bus, headed to the Home Depot, sees a young man a few rows ahead with the name "Kevin" on his jersey. Jeff being Jeff, follows him off of his stop all the way to a pick-up game of basketball. A photo back at home of teenage Jeff in a high school basketball uniform denotes that he is ready to kick some ass, which he does indeed! He wins the friendship of Kevin, though not without question, as Kevin knows Jeff has been following him. Jeff slowly reveals his thoughts on the universe and why he's following him, and Kevin strangely understands. Jeff, happy that someone gets him, is invited to go smoke some marijuana, which Jeff likes very much. Kevin leads Jeff into a small, secluded alley to smoke some weed. While coughing it out, Jeff is ambushed and mugged by Kevin's friends. The group leaves Jeff on the floor, and as Kevin leaves, he apologizes. Jeff slowly gets up and just begins to walk.

Meanwhile, in the local Hooters, Pat is having a business meeting, though it seems like he's just complaining about his wife. He receives a call from his mother, who begs him to go and get Jeff on his feet. Pat declines, saying that he's a grown man, but his mother desperately urges him to do something about it. Suddenly, outside, Pat sees Jeff walking all by himself. Pat hangs up on his mother.

Sharon, frustrated by her sons, out of nowhere receives a paper airplane which has a picture of a flower on it. Immediately after, she receives an instant message asking if she likes flowers. The message is from an anonymous source, and the messenger claims to be a SECRET admirer. Sharon is doubtful, as she doesn't see herself as fit to be loved, and is kind of a lost cause since the loss of her husband a few years back. After a small conversation with the admirer, who compliments her, she stays weary, though is appreciative.

Outside of the Hooters, Pat, after blowing some steam post receiving a ticket for parking in a handicap spot, catches up to Jeff, who is surprised by them meeting in the first place. Pat tosses this aside and tells him he has to take him home, as per mom's wishes. Jeff, after trying to explain everything, is ignored and ultimately gets in the car.

As Pat drives to "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors, he tries to show off to Jeff by going REALLY fast. Long story short, he crashes directly into a tree, and he may or may not have been drinking at the Hooters. While Pat is trying to bribe the residents whose tree they just hit, Jeff notices something across the street- it's Pat's wife Linda, at a gas station in another man's car. Jeff points this out to Pat, and the two begin to follow her.

They eventually tail the two all the way to a fancy restaurant that Linda always wants to go to, but Pat doesn't take her to, because he feels that it is populated with uptight assholes. Pat parks his car in a fire lane and demands that Jeff goes inside and sits at the table next to them so he could hear what they're saying via a well placed cellphone. Jeff complies, and sits at the table directly behind Linda and her mysterious beau. Pat calls him, and Jeff places his phone on his shoulder so Pat could hear Linda's conversation- she complains about Pat's inability to care for her, make love, and his strange amount of competitiveness in their lives. After getting riled up over what he's hearing, Pat sees his car being towed right in front of him. He gives chase. Linda and her friend get up and see Jeff, blowing his cover. He pretends like nothing is happening, and the two eventually leave as Linda awkwardly explains what she's doing.

After the couple books it, Jeff runs outside to Pat, who is running back to Jeff after he just lost his car. Now the two don't have any idea where the couple has gone, so Jeff suggests that they just walk. Eventually, they end up at the graveyard where their father is buried. After having a very nice conversation and reveal that they've been having the same dream about their father, Pat blows it off as if its nothing. Jeff immediately gets angry because he doesn't notice the beauty in their shared dream. The two get into a very harsh fight and part ways. Pat calls Jeff an idiot, Jeff says that he and mom will never understand him. Nearby, a truck labeled "Kevin's Kandy" is parked- Jeff hops on the back as it begins to drive away. Pat walks over to a local bar.

Back at the office, Sharon continues to converse with the secret admirer, who she believes is not real. She told her friend Carol that she probably doesn't deserve a secret admirer and that someone is playing a prank on her. Carol implores her to keep looking, as she'll find something special if she does. Reluctantly, but curiously, Sharon continues to look around the office.

Jeff has made it to a laser tag establishment, and plays arcade basketball as he waits for the van driver, a vending machine supplier, finishes his job. As soon as he's done, Jeff hops on the back once again and Kevin's Kandy drives off.

Pat drinks a beer and watches TV at the bar. He eventually calls a cab to head home, but along the way stops, as he sees Linda's car parked in a hotel parking lot. Pat tries to get her room number, but is denied, and waits near the vending machines, thinking.

Kevin's Kandy makes its stop at a local hotel. Jeff sees Pat near the vending machines and smiles wide at this encounter. He hugs the truck driver, who has no idea what is going on.

Jeff runs in and hugs Pat, who is surprised, but preoccupied. Jeff tries to explain the brilliance of THIS encounter, but Pat tells him that Linda and her possible lover are in this very hotel. They eventually see the guy come out of a hotel room and get some ice. Jeff and Pat tail him to his room and think about how they should handle this situation. Jeff being the bigger guy, decides that he is going to try and break down the door. He... fails. Eventually, the guy opens the door, and Pat charges in. He starts to yell at Linda and the man, who tries to tackle Pat, but is stopped by Jeff, who subdues him as Linda and Pat duke it out with words. Jeff brings this guy out to the hall and tells him to just go home.

Linda lists off all her complaints about her relationship with Pat, who remains ignorant and rude throughout. She begins to cry and says that it's not working out between them. She leaves to go to her mother's house. Pat, crestfallen, sits in the bathtub. Jeff comes in and sits in the bathtub along with him. Pat becomes vulnerable and admits that he just wants to be in love with her again, and is truly sorry about being mean to her. Jeff says that he has to tell that to her, and that it will work if Pat does so. Pat is reluctant, but Jeff just begs him to do so. Pat says he wishes he could see things the way Jeff sees things, but Jeff says that he shouldn't, as he's really unhappy. The two apologize to each other for their earlier encounter.

Sharon eventually tells the secret admirer to go to the water cooler to prove that they're real. She waits there and has a conversation with a coworker. It goes nicely until she says that she likes flowers- he clearly has no idea what she is talking about. Embarrassed, she runs to the bathroom, Carol after her. The two sit on the floor and talk it out- Sharon says that she just feels alone and scared. She didn't expect her life to go like this. Carol asks what she wanted to do with her life, and Sharon says that she wants to go somewhere tropical, and kiss under a waterfall, or something, not really being sure, but having specifics of happiness triggers. Suddenly, mid conversation, Sharon notices a tattoo of a flower that Carol has, which is the exact same design as the one on the plane. Confused, Sharon storms out of the bathroom, though Carol says that it's not what it seems like.

Sharon and Carol communicate again via IM, where Carol stresses that she is not a lesbian, and is just trying to be a good friend, who sees Sharon for who she is and that's all. Sharon agrees that that is a nice thing. Suddenly, the fire alarm goes off, and the sprinklers turn on. Everyone in the office gets out of there as fast as possibly. Sharon suddenly realizes what this is about, and breaks down crying. She sits in her chair, eyes closed, and opens her eyes to Carol, who comes up to her. She tells her to close her eyes again, and then kisses her gently on the lips. The two smile, and run out of there.

In the parking lot, Carol tells Sharon to think of the craziest thing she would want to do. She hasn't been to New Orleans in 20 years, and Carol thinks its perfect. They drive off toward the freeway.

Jeff and Pat, now on the freeway, en route to Linda's mother's house, are in a cab. The two look happy but anxious. As they reach a bridge, they also reach an immense amount of traffic. They don't know what to do, but Jeff tells Pat to go with his instinct. Pat agrees and gets out. Jeff says that if they don't connect again later in the day, that he's had a good time catching up. Pat smiles and runs alongside the bumper to bumper traffic, running past his mother and Carol. Carol gets out and runs after him. Jeff sits in the car, smile faded. The cab driver asks if everything is okay. Jeff asks if he's ever learned what he was meant to do in this life, but learned that it isn't all that awesome. The cab driver shrugs, and so does Jeff.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jeff sees a helicopter approaching the bridge. Something is wrong. Jeff gets out of the car and begins to run.

Pat, now caught up with Linda, makes amends and apologizes deeply for being a bad husband. They embrace. Eventually, Sharon and Carol arrive to the duo, confusing everyone. They greet each other, and then Jeff is seen running right past them.

At the end of the bridge, there is the aftermath of a 4 car accident, with one of the cars having gone over the bridge. Jeff thinks for a moment. He jumps off the bridge and into the water. His family paces over to the site of the accident, and watch anxiously as Jeff swims downward. Moments pass, and Jeff comes up with two little girls. He screams for help as a coast-guard boat approaches. He helps the two onto the boat, but the girls are screaming that their father is still down there. Jeff, without hesitation, dives back down. He stays down for quite some time. Eventually, the body of a man floats to the surface without Jeff. The coast guard saves the man.

Pat begins to panic and jumps off the bridge himself. For a moment of two, he couldn't find Jeff, but dives down deep and brings up his brother, unconscious. He is desperately screaming for help. A bigger boat comes by and picks up the two. Jeff stays knocked out. Pat is screaming for him to wake up. He is begging someone for them to will it. After a minute or two of attempted CPR, Jeff coughs up water and about a pint of vomit. Pat embraces Jeff, hard. Jeff says that he's hungry.

The two, wrapped in blankets, are driven to a port, where Linda and Sharon wait. they dock and embrace their mother tight. Pat hugs Linda and kisses her, apologizing to her. Jeff apologizes to his mother and embraces her. They're all relieved.

Back at home, Sharon is officially celebrating her birthday with Carol, Pat, and Linda. Jeff comes in with a cake and they all greet her happy birthday.

Sharon and Carol are talking chummily as usual, and Pat and Linda seem to have made up and are now infatuated with each other just like the good old days. Jeff happily watches these relationships blossom beautifuly.

Down in the basement, Jeff is cleaning up. On the TV, he hears the news report about a city councilman named Kevin being saved from drowning, along with his daughters. The girls say that they are so thankful, and don't know what they would have done if their father died.

Jeff notes this and begins to tear up- he looks at the ceiling thankfully.

It's night now, and Jeff grabs some wood glue. He places the broken piece of shutter in its appropriate place, and glues it in. It fits perfectly. Jeff smiles.

Critical Reception

Jeff, Who Lives at Home received positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the film scored a 60, which puts it in the color YELLOW and the category "Mixed Reviews," but is literally one point away from being in the highest color, GREEN, and the category "Generally Positive Reviews." Of the the Metacritic reviews, 21 were positive, 13 were mixed, and 2 were negative. On RottenTomatoes, which has a significantly larger and more diverse body of critics, 98 of the 126 reviews (78%) were positive. This puts in the category "FRESH."