The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

A man suffering a family loss enrolls in a class about care-giving that changes his perspective on life.

Jess’ Review

I have a hazy memory of watching The Fundamentals of Caring with Sam in the past, not recalling much aside from its quirky tone. But after a second viewing today, I suddenly find myself completely enamoured with it. Perhaps it’s my current hyper-emotional mood latching onto the feel-good elements of the flick, but in this moment, this film was a real treat.

The film follows newly qualified carer Ben Benjamin (Paul Rudd) as he takes up duties looking after disabled teen, Trevor (Craig Roberts.) Angsty and armed with a scathing sense of humour, Trevor is played with the ferocity of your average teenage boy whilst a quiet vulnerability is glimpsed through the cracks. He’s a complex character, played with brilliant care by Roberts and isn’t restricted to stereotypes. His character subverts Hollywood expectations of disability, and in doing so comes across as incredibly authentic. Rudd is also a strong performance though shines in more comedic scenarios. Not to say his emotional scenes are bad, but it’s clear where his strengths lie - within his deadpan humour and sarky chemistry with Roberts. The supporting cast are also great additions, with a special shout-out to Selena Gomez.

Harkening back to the bittersweet feel-good vibes of Little Miss Sunshine (2006), the tone of The Fundamentals of Caring is gloriously charming. The plot is simple yet surprisingly powerful as we follow the leading duo on an unconventional roadtrip. Filled with laughs and quite the catalogue of quick-witted insults, it’s more than a comedy and quickly delves into themes of loss, relationships, hopes and determination. There’s layers to the story and thus is holds my attention. In truth, there’s scenes that could’ve required greater exploration but as it stands, it works. 

Bolstered by a mellow, indie soundtrack and a genuine story of overcoming hardships, I commend The Fundamentals of Caring. It’s genuine, heart-warming and delivers a powerful message that we should search for the good even in the most dire circumstances. Uplifting and charming, it’s a bonus that it can keep me chuckling throughout.

7.5/10

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Sam’s Review

It’s essentially a made-for-TV-movie done well. It’s shot well, and the slow, lingering shots capture the emotion of the scene stunningly. Yet, it feels pandering. Perhaps it’s the strained story of redemption. Or the hauntingly beautiful piano backtrack that’s too obvious in its manipulation of my emotions. Not quite tacky, but unfortunately inauthentic. And yet, it’s hard to go wrong with the calming presence of Paul Rudd. He’s a steady hand when it comes to comedy, and it’s refreshing to see him on the maturer side. Played by Craig Roberts, Trevor, a wheelchair-bound 18 year old with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is fantastically cynical, somewhat bitter, but incredibly sharp witted. The chemistry between the pair is electric, though dysfunctional. Whilst Craig can be devastatingly rude to Ben, played by Rudd, they have an entertaining banter. And, Selena Gomez as the runaway Dot was brilliant casting. For a pop star, she certainly can act. Ben’s writing background is barely mentioned on, and it’s a missed opportunity. An added depth to the character is needed, as he runs the risk of being bland. He feels watered down. It also would have given an actual reason that he embarked on the journey in the first place. Opposed to randomly getting the idea, perhaps he's selfishly using it to cure his writers block? While we're on the subject, there was no reason or sense to Trevor's mum relenting and letting her severely ill son leave home with this essentially random person. I guess I'm saying that there are plot holes. Simple ones, and they're easy to ignore when charmed by the indie vibe. They would have also been easy to eradicate with a marginally better script, though. Fundamentals is a sentimental film. Hypocritically it wants you to feel, though refuses to delve into its own emotions. DMD is a devastating disease, that has intense ramifications. While it's a lighthearted comedy, and obviously that's the lane it strives for, there was a chance to have a sincere emotional element. This trait isn't even limited to one character. While Ben suffers great loss, it's for the film's vanity. His devastating loss has no real significance on the plot or the outcome, only another plot device used in a tacky attempt at manipulating your emotions. The ending sums it up. Lighthearted comedy, that pulls its punches as if it’s scared  to be truly edgy. And yet it's still a good film. Some of the wackier comedic moments are brilliantly biting. It's sharp, something that Trevor utilises cuttingly. It's lingers too far on the side of cheesy for me to adore it. But, it's hard to go wrong with Rudd's charm.

7/10

(P.S. I genuinely enjoyed the film.)