Jeff, whose film is good

Sometimes movies try so hard to be realistic that they forget they’re still movies.

The heartwarming comedy “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” has a mystic fascination with the idea that some signs that point to our destiny are almost too powerful to not be scripted.

Jeff (Jason Segel), the 30-year-old stoner living with his mom (Susan Sarandon), believes in such a fate, and he thinks it’s more than coincidence he bumped into his brother Pat (Ed Helms) to help him investigate if his wife Linda (Judy Greer) is having an affair.

If the film’s nonsensical camera movements weren’t enough of a sign, some noticeably predictable and ridiculously madcap segments involving Pat colliding his new Porsche with a tree are indicative of a constantly self-aware movie.

Yet through likeable characters, economical editing and a surprising level of depth and character growth in key scenes, directors Jay and Mark Duplass create a wonderfully-contained movie universe that is simple and elegant.

“Jeff, Who Lives at Home” is a beautiful, endearing and funny film worth leaving the couch for.