Sophie Goodhart’s winning crowd-pleaser puts
a refreshing female spin on the slacker-comedy
genre that has been dominated by male filmmakers.
Self-effacing softie Bill (Nick Kroll) has spent
his life living in the shadow of his blind brother
Robbie (Adam Scott), an over-achiever celebrated
for his increasingly nutso athletic feats. But
Bill sees something behind Robbie’s inspiring heroics
that everyone else seems to miss: he’s actually
a pompous, intolerable ass. Ever the also-ran,
Bill doggedly stands by his brother, thanklessly
assisting him even as his own life remains stuck in
neutral. But when Bill falls for kindred spirit Rose
(Jenny Slate), and a bizarre love triangle begins
to develop, his listless existence is given a shot in
the arm, and he must decide if he will finally stand
up to Robbie, or let love pass him by. Blending
biting cynicism with unabashed sweetness, this
quirky romantic comedy about the merits of selfishness
is a thoughtful comic delight.