Netflix Original
Directed by : Rob Burnett
Produced by : Rob Burnett, Donna Gigliotti, James Spies
Written by : Rob Burnett
Based on : The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison
Starring : Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez
Music by : Ryan Miller
Distributed by : Netflix
Year : 2016
Many movies come with a lot of noise and creates ripples in the mind while watching and then you forget about them. And then there are a few that comes silently, touches something deep within and stays with you even beyond its ending
One such hidden gem on Netflix is “The Fundamentals of Caring”. And as you go through this journey with Ben and Trevor, the movies charms you. The movie is based on the book “The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving” by Jonathan Evison, and has been beautifully shaped by director Rob Burnett. What could have ended up as a stereotypical movie of a bonding between a carer and a teenage boy suffering from Muscular Dystrophy (MD), of sympathy and suffering, actually turned out to be a journey of freedom from pain, pity and suffering, a story of empathy and living life.
A tragic loss plunges the life of a writer Ben, played beautifully by Paul Rudd, into suffering and darkness. His remorse even pushes his marriage towards divorce. And in his inability to ease out of his own pain, Ben trains as a carer. He lands a job at the home of a single mother Elsa, played by Jennifer Elhe, and her son, Trevor, who is suffering from MD, and who have recently moved to US from England for her job. From playing the affable Mark in friends, to his career defining role of Ant Man, to this subtle yet impactful performance, Paul Rudd has truly come a long way.
After watching the movie, I cannot imagine anyone other than Craig Roberts playing the role of Trevor. What a wonderfully balanced performance, between pain and acceptance, fear and hope. Suffering from MD since he was three years old, which even became the reason for his father leaving them, and knowing he just had a few years to live, could have made Trevor live in sadness and despair. But the beautiful portrayal of suffering replaced with routine, laughter, planning and hope, can never make one feel sorry for the boy. The connection between Ben and Trevor is the driving force for the movie.
Caring is not just based on rules or fundamentals, but is, or can be, so much more. And though Ben has his training and instructions from Trevor’s Mom to stick to the book and not cross any emotional or fundamental limit, his heart pushes him in a direction that opens life up for both Trevor and him.
The journey to see the biggest pit in the world, the unusual friendships made along the way and some grim realities faced head-on strikes a chord deep within. Selena Gomez as Dot, the rebellious runaway teenager and Megan Ferguson, the sweet and soft-spoken pregnant military wife who join them in their journey, make for some really unlikely but beautiful friendships.
The movie manages to avoid unnecessary drama to create impact, and instead relies on humour and human connection as the real sub-plot to take the story forward.
Stumbling upon this clean, honest yet strongly appealing content, makes the watch worth the while. Watch the movie to smile, to laugh, to join in on the journey, and once it is over, you realize that not for a moment did you pity Trevor and his condition or sympathize with the loss & pain of Ben. You simply & effortlessly became a part of their journey together.
Image Courtesy :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fundamentals_of_Caring
http://netflix.com/title/80097349
