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During the summer, theaters are filled with the noise and explosions of big-budget action movies. But if you’re ready for a break from the thrills and chills and CGI effects of Summer Blockbuster Season, you might want to stay home with the Netflix Original drama The Fundamentals of Caring.
The Fundamentals of Caring stars Paul Rudd as Ben Benjamin, a man who decides to work through the heartbreak in his own life by becoming a caregiver. His first client is 18-year-old Trevor (Craig Roberts), who suffers from a form of muscular dystrophy. Trevor spends his days in front of the TV, eating waffles and obsessing about the country’s quirkiest landmarks. And when Ben pushes him to get out of the house and take a week-long cross-country road trip, the time together gives both of them a new perspective on life.
There’s just something about the tone of The Fundamentals of Caring that makes it stand out from the usual guy-in-a-wheelchair movie. Typically, it seems that disabled characters make for wild, outrageous comedies or heavy, tear-jerking dramas. But while Trevor is generally a bitter and tormented character (which, admittedly, is a maddening cinematic stereotype), he still has a sense of humor. He’s cocky and sarcastic, with a tendency toward often mean-spirited pranks. But he can be funny, too—and the character and his personality generally feel honest and real.
Ben, too, is an undeniably charming character. He’s sweet and silly and just a little bit sad—the kind of character that made audiences fall in love with Rudd in the first place. And with help from Trevor’s pranks and the quirky hitchhikers that the road-tripping duo picks up along the way, he gives the film a good balance of drama and laughs.
The story, meanwhile, is thoughtfully messy. This isn’t just the story of a handicapped kid who’s introduced to the outside world by a lovable caregiver. It’s the story of two damaged, troubled guys who push each other and frustrate each other and get on each other’s nerves—and who end up learning from each other in the end. It doesn’t shy away from the difficult stuff or gloss over the challenges and blemishes. Instead, it faces it all with heart, humor, and sometimes awkward sincerity.
Granted, the film isn’t without its flaws. It seems fixated on some strange aspects of the story—and parts of the conclusion feel strange and somewhat artificial. But its spirit, its quirky sense of humor, and its refreshingly different perspective make it a likable road trip drama.
Challenging and thoughtful and sometimes surprisingly irreverent, too, The Fundamentals of Caring may not have any superheroes, but it does have heart. So if you don’t feel like battling the crowds at your favorite theater, this original movie is worthy of a Netflix night in.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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