My Rating – 5/10 (Personal 2.5/5, Production – 0.5, Plot-1, People – 1)
Perhaps through no fault of its own, The Fundamentals of Caring suffers from unavoidable comparisons to two other similar films I’ve watched relatively recently. Both of which managed to execute the story, emotions and characters better and in a more satisfying way.
Nonetheless, there is a unique element of charm to this Netflix Original movie. Even if you’re not as big a fan of Paul Rudd’s as I am, you can’t help instantly relating to his subtle, everyman shtick (intertwined with some hard hitting emotional backstory here to boot). Craig Roberts, Rudd’s co-lead also offers up a decent performance but, through no fault of his own, is a character we distinctly aren’t charmed into liking. And that I think is the movie’s biggest problem.
The slightly plodding plot and occasionally wonky dialogue are relatively small impediments to the central emotion and heart of the story, even if that catharsis is not taken far enough. In a very vivid way, Rudd’s character is the only one given a real chance to grow and his arc is a welcome one in the relatively formulaic story.
The Fundamentals of Caring will neither wet your cheeks with tears nor your pants with laughter, but it’s got a beating heart nonetheless.
Milim on Movies 
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