Ideal Home

I hadn't heard anything about this film and just stumbled across it on Netflix. Decided to give a go, not expecting much, and now here I am writing a review on IMDB to encourage anyone who is wavering to definitely watch!

It's a lovely, funny and heartwarming film. Coogan and Rudd are excellent and have great on screen chemistry - the characters are all well constructed and each goes on their own journey (ok - somewhat predictably, but so what? It's a comedy..) and, despite their flaws, are all really likeable

Would definitely recommend

In an inspired piece of casting, pairing Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd as a bickering gay couple is Ideal Home's bright spark. The two veteran actors bring their impeccable comedic timing to the roles of Erasmus (Coogan), a TV chef with an inflated ego, and his TV director partner Paul (Rudd) who spend their days on set together trading snippy remarks. After all, they say you shouldn't mix work with pleasure.

The two find their lives uprooted when Erasmus' ten-year old grandson arrives at their door looking to stay in their custody. The message soon becomes clear for these two estranged lovers: If they can learn to love the boy maybe they can learn to love each other again?

Directed by Andrew Fleming, who previously directed Coogan in the musical comedy Hamlet 2, Ideal Home is genuine but never preachy in its depiction of a gay couple bringing up a child. The film prioritises humour over offering any real insight into the challenges of parenthood with two fathers. Besides, it's not hard to surmise from the synopsis alone where the story is heading and it's the humour that makes the film when the story lets up.

Luckily Coogan and Rudd are genuinely funny and they share real romantic chemistry allowing the film to tap into a fountain full of humour and heart. Packed with witty one-liners, the film is consistently funny. In one scene, after offering alcohol to a man who responds that he's sober, Paul retorts, "I'm also sober but I'm planning to do something about it." If you're in the mood for a laugh, Ideal Home is an ideal piece of light entertainment.

Promos didn't give it justice. I thought to myself, here's another goofy comedy with stereotypical gay characters, and some annoying kid. Boy was I wrong. It thankfully has more layers than that, and stands in the good indie flick category. Which is what I prefer. It helped making the script more tangible. There's also drama, but it's never tacky. I loved that little trio, they had such an interesting dynamic. So did the actors, who did a terrific job portraying them. And the supporting roles, were perfect for that. I was glad to see Kate Walsh make a cameo, and quickly understood why her character wasn't in more scenes. That wasn't the point. The point was to depict a couple in crisis, faced with a life changing event, in the most realistic and compelling manner. And I say, mission accomplished. Ideal Home, was everything you'd expect of a good comedy of manners, and a movie in general. And despite the « woke » subject, it was never preachy and had heart. Nice pick.

What a truly enjoyable, heart warming movie this is. It's bound to have its critics in a world still obsessed with old fashioned ideals.

Coogan and Rudd have worked together in some fine films, and combine incredible well, with real chemistry. Coogan at times sounding like a relative of Edina Monsoon.

The kid obviously undergoes a transformation, and the outcome is perhaps a little predictable, but it's the journey that's important here, not the destination.

A well meaning funny film, that sets out a message that the rules of convention have changed. 8/10

Such a sweet, heart felt story. Definitely worth a watch.