Jeff, Who Lives at Home Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Jeff, Who Lives at Home Blu-ray Movie Review

This Blu-ray should live in your home.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 9, 2012

All of this randomness is leading towards a perfect moment.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home opens with a brief and appreciative monologue for the brilliance that is Signs, Director M. Night Shyamalan's cinematic powerhouse that tells the story not of an alien invasion, but rather the place of fate in life, of the way life manages to squeeze in the necessary ingredients -- no matter how obtuse or unrelated to one another they may be -- which at first appear on a cluttered and undefined surface, a surface simply waiting for that magical moment when order comes to chaos and the bad yields almost magical goodness. Jeff's story whittles down to this: a seemingly singular bad day is shaped by random and unrelated events which give way to something special, something beyond the grasp of the everyday flow of life, something that will give meaning to hardship and yield unexpectedly positive results. Jeff, Who Lives at Home operates through its narrative study of that age-old question of whether the notions of circumstance, fate, or "right place, right time" are merely the result of chance or whether there's some extra-normal guidance leading man towards some goal, whether with a gentle nudge in the right direction or through an eye-opening shove towards some predetermined destiny, both extremes utilized in some way throughout the film. Then there's the question of the influence on those who can -- or choose to -- see fate taking shape, and those who are merely blindsided by the final revelation. Either way, one cannot help but ponder the cosmic consequences of action or inaction when a path is opened, and whether the human mind is capable of giving credence to the supernatural, give fate an appreciative nod, or simply shake it off as pure randomness and move on, no better for the experience. Only the end of the movie can say towards which Jeff, Who Lives at Home leans.

Jeff, who eats Pop Tarts.

Jeff (Jason Segel, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is something of an amateur philosopher who sees a real life message in the movie Signs. He does much of his theorizing on the toilet, a toilet situated in his mother's basement, a basement he calls "home." He's unemployed, a leach, and a burden to his mother Sharon (Susan Sarandon, The Lovely Bones), an office automaton who has just learned that she's the object of affection from a secret admirer. Sharon calls her son and asks him to fix a broken wooden panel, but Jeff has other, better things to do, like contemplate a wrong number and a person on the other end asking for someone by the name of "Kevin." But Jeff finally heads out to buy the glue he needs to fix the panel. On the bus ride over, he spots a young man wearing a basketball jersey with the name "Kevin" emblazoned across the back. Jeff decides to delay his trip to Home Depot and follows "Kevin" to a pick-up basketball game. But it seems fate's playing a cruel joke. Jeff thinks he may have found a new pot-smoking best friend, but "Kevin" and his crew only beat and steal from him. On his way back home -- on foot -- Jeff passes by a Hooters restaurant, inside of which is his brother Pat (Ed Helms, The Hangover). Pat's having problems with his wife Linda (Judy Greer, Three Kings) and has recently purchased a pricy sports car they cannot afford and of which she disapproves. Pat and Jeff happen upon Linda eating lunch with another man, which continues a day of fate and a trip towards destiny that began with a wrong number phone call and will end with eyes open and a new perspective on life for all who are touched by Jeff's choosing of fate over his own misguided and blind direction.

There's certainly a place for the bang-'em-ups, maudlin drama, overcooked period pieces, or any other type of film that passes off the tired and trite for substance. Yet it's the movies like Jeff, Who Lives at Home that capture an oft disregarded little slice of entertainment and cinema, the nuanced pictures that never hide their intentions, that go about their business quickly and efficiently, that tell a story with purpose and yet find a meaning even on the surface, where it's very clear, very simple, but at the same time complexly layered and scrumptious food for thought. Indeed, this film shows a day in a life defined by hope and an understanding of something larger at work, of an individual refusing to ignore the signposts and eurekas and go with the flow, even if going with the flow doesn't exactly allow him to fit in with everyone else. Jeff's day is defined by oddities, dangers, awkward moments, near-death experiences, even, but he simply follows the signs whatever has given him, allowing that whatever, whoever to lead him -- and others close to him, distant, and even a few who don't know him from anyone -- towards a purpose greater than fixing a wooden panel, but even then there's even a place for the daily little inconsequential things, too, which may restore order or prove of some value beyond the immediate. Jeff, Who Lives at Home expertly meshes general cinema with thought-provoking substance in such a way that the two become one, that the movie's structure itself supports the notion of purpose even in those things which seem purposeless. Separate they may be of little value, but together they're something much, much greater.

Part of what makes Jeff, Who Lives at Home so wonderful is the exacting, emotionally-involved performance from Jason Segel. His character accepts from the outset -- whether through a lifetime's worth of observations, a gut feeling, completely convinced by Signs alone, or some combination thereof -- the role of fate in life and, more important, his decision to pay attention to life's signs, be they neon-bright or sun-drained dull. But it's the seeing and knowing and following that matter; Segel plays the part largely with his eyes, staring with an inwardly knowing look about him, instantly piecing together each little individual section of the larger roadmap and, after only a brief hesitation, following through in accomplishing the goal whatever or whoever lays out for him. Segel, like the film, balances deep drama with an outward lightness. As he follows this windy road towards destiny, the movie maneuvers through some light comedy and heavy drama alike, but there's not a single shot, any one scene, and no lengthy sequence that strays from the focus. The entire movie is one large puzzle, one starry sky, every piece critical to the physical formation of the whole, every pinhole-like light necessary for the imaginative lines to form an identifiable shape. And while Jeff, Who Lives at Home takes shape and the final picture becomes (mostly) clear only partway through the movie, it's a not-so-classic example of the journey meaning just as much as the destination, both hand-in-hand equals in shaping a picture that speaks on the roles of the little things, the big things, and everything in between and everything before in defining all that is to come after.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount's 1080p Blu-ray transfer of Jeff, Who Lives at Home dazzles. The image comes sourced from HD video photography, and the result is a crisp, clean, gorgeous transfer that doesn't suffer any of the ill-effects from lower-quality video sources. Never does the image appear flat, glossy, or artificial. While it looks digital, it never feels digital as digital has usually felt in the past. Indeed, HD photography is catching up to the quality of film if this production is any indication. The transfer amazes from the opening credits -- where various still shots of family photos look about as real as they can look in 1080p -- onward. The image produces superb facial and clothing textures, and the evident crispness and superior definition leave the image razor-sharp in every scene. Colors are accurate and balanced, whether green grasses or warm woods. Flesh tones are perhaps a hair washed out, but black are sturdy and accurate. There are a few minor problems spots, with one or two scenes going ever-so-slightly soft, a handful of shots that show signs of struggle in shadow-to-light color transitions, and minor background banding, but this is otherwise a faultless, eye-catching transfer from Paramount.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Jeff, Who Lives at Home arrives in home theaters via the Blu-ray's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It should come as no surprise that the movie is largely centered around dialogue. There's not much in the way of prominent sound elements aside from a steady stream of speech. Paramount's lossless soundtrack delivers every syllable cleanly, clearly, and without distraction from the minor supporting elements. Music plays with effortless spacing and clarity across the front channels, with an evident and balanced but not overbearing surround support structure. The track delivers fine minor ambience, whether the din of a busy Hooters restaurant or passing traffic out on the street. A few heavier effects and deeper music enjoy a positive heft from the low end. This track isn't a sonic dazzler, but it's a fine example of a sonically reserved movie sounding great thanks to a precise, clean, and accurate lossless soundtrack.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Jeff, Who Lives at Home contains only a UV digital copy of the film. While there are no extra features, this is the sort of movie best analyzed in one's own mind; a definitive play-by-play of the ideas in it would lessen the experience.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Whatever and whoever are the real stars of Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The film champions the idea that there's order to randomness, but it's up to the individual to make the first connection and see fate through to conclusion. The film is expertly assembled and a pleasure to watch. It's easy on the eyes and mind, but that doesn't make it a thematic lightweight. On the contrary, this is a deep and involved movie, but it's deep and involved like few others, the picture easily intermixing casual cinema with dramatic heft. Jason Segel's performance is exceptional, and the supporting cast understands the movie's superficial qualities and nuance alike. It may be said that all of Jeff, Who Lives at Home's randomness is leading towards a perfect movie. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Jeff, Who Lives at Home features standout video and audio. Despite the absence of supplemental content, this disc comes highly recommended.