The Fundamentals of Caring

Name: The Fundamentals of Caring
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: June 24, 2016
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Craig Roberts, Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez

2016

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Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 129 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 129 Ratings

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The Fundamentals of Caring

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): June 24, 2016 | TV-MA

Starring: Craig Roberts, Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez

Summary: Ben (Paul Rudd), a retired writer, becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor (Craig Roberts), a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places TrevorBen (Paul Rudd), a retired writer, becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor (Craig Roberts), a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places Trevor has become obsessed with while watching the local news, including their holy grail: the World's Deepest Pit. Along the way, they pick up a sassy runaway and a mother-to-be who help test the pair’s survival skills outside of their calculated existence as they come to understand the importance of hope and true friendship. [Netflix]… Expand

Director: Rob Burnett

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

Leah Greenblatt

Jun 23, 2016

Caring may be fundamental, but it never quite feels necessary. Read full review

The Film Stage Ed Frankl

Jan 29, 2016

It’s only frustrating that however funny Fundamentals is, the dynamic is something we’ve seen many times before. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Jun 23, 2016

As in Ant-Man, there's lots of shopworn redemption-plotting to get through here, and a sense that the filmmakers find the kind of jobs actually available to Americans a little beneath someone as twinkly-cute as Paul Rudd. But — also like in Ant-Man — the pleasures of Rudd overpower the programmatic elements. Read full review

Geoff Berkshire

Jan 29, 2016

Solid performances and some genuinely sharp humor elevate writer-director Rob Burnett’s second feature. Read full review

The Guardian Andrew Pulver

Jun 23, 2016

Inevitably, perhaps, it pulls its punches, and soft-pedals on any authentic misery that its scenarios might evoke. But its essential amiability and decency comes through. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Jun 24, 2016

The only reason it’s not unbearably saccharine is that Paul Rudd, again, grounds a film in something that feels genuine. He’s never an actor that comes across forced, and he does his best to find the truth in Burnett’s overwritten script. Read full review

Leslie Felperin

Jan 29, 2016

The Fundamentals of Caring cleaves so closely to the stereotypes of indie filmmaking, it’s as if it were created by some demonic cinematic algorithm. Read full review

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User Reviews

atomicharry

Jun 14, 2019

This was such a cute netflix film to watch at film and had me emotional as some points all the performances were great

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

brunours

Jun 24, 2016

filme maravilhoso, atuações ótimas e os atores cheios de química! Feliz por ver Selena num projeto como esse, lindo! Paul Rudd, Megan e craig roberts ótimos

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

shawndawsonnn

Jun 24, 2016

This movie is really charming performances by Paul,Craig and Selena were amazing.They really show us theirs best especially Selena performances.Amazing!

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

MasterRiley

Jul 28, 2016

The Fundamentals of Caring is a heart felt character driven story about forgiveness and seeking more out of life. Its driven by good writing, good casting, good performances, and some good comedy as well. For anyone looking for a good movie on Netflix I would definitely recommend this one.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

evellllllllllll

Apr 17, 2018

The movie is based on the clever novel by Jonathon Evison. It's a humorous film brought to life by mature performances from great actors. The development of the main characters relationship, Trevor (Craig Roberts), with his new carer, Ben (Paul Rudd), carries the plot. Trevor, an obnoxious,The movie is based on the clever novel by Jonathon Evison. It's a humorous film brought to life by mature performances from great actors. The development of the main characters relationship, Trevor (Craig Roberts), with his new carer, Ben (Paul Rudd), carries the plot. Trevor, an obnoxious, girl-crazed teenager, has a condition that confines him to a wheelchair. Trevor and Ben form an unusual but brilliant relationship, consisting of crude jokes and witty comebacks. The pair's smart banter is extremely entertaining. The really picks up when Ben, a broken writer suffering the loss of his son, takes a reluctant Trevor on a road trip across America to visit landmarks that Trevor has a strange fascination with. The movie is a heartwarming coming of age story. It is suitable for any age apart from young children, but I believe teenagers/ young adults would enjoy the film the most.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Miqht

Aug 20, 2016

Its one of those movies that takes a while to develop but once it gets going, its a ride. Its one of those few movies that stays with you a long while afterwards.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

KaptenVideo

Sep 2, 2017

A writer (Paul Rudd) retires after a great personal tragedy and becomes a disabled teen's (Craig Roberts) caregiver.
When the two embark on an road trip, both of their abilities to cope with the real world is put under a test. Also appearing: Julia Denton, Jennifer Ehle, Selena Gomez et al.A writer (Paul Rudd) retires after a great personal tragedy and becomes a disabled teen's (Craig Roberts) caregiver.
When the two embark on an road trip, both of their abilities to cope with the real world is put under a test. Also appearing: Julia Denton, Jennifer Ehle, Selena Gomez et al.
There’s something enduringly endearing about Paul Rudd. He’s only an OK actor, and he does way too many bland and generic comedies… but I still find him cool and want to see most everything he shows up in.
This is actually one the better ones. It's not really good, per se... but at least one of the less bland and generic ones.
Based on a novel by Jonathan Evison, written and directed by Rob Burnett, produced as a Netflix original, it’s a bittersweet comedy about not being a **** and trying to live every once in a while.
It has a heart in right place but looking back, I’d like to criticize more than applaud the result. Writer-director Burnett has tried definitely too hard creating an authentic and hip story to really get away with it.
it would probably help if two of the three main female characters were more realistic or at least more compatible with the general tone, not as exaggerated and shallow as they are now.
Also, Burnett seems to be much better at adding the storylines than working with them, so most of the stuff brought in gets carelessly thrown overboard at some point without proper development or closure. Well, at least the central story of taking a road trip gets enough attention.
Rudd is charming as usual, but he doesn't quite have all the range needed for playing this character. He’s fine most of the time because he speaks little and acting grumpy is easy, but all in all, it's easy to notice a certain lack of depth to his acting. Wish they used somebody more diverse actor for that role.
The best thing here is Craig Roberts giving a quirky, deadpan performane as foul-mouthed disabled teen.
Roberts is probably still best known for his breakthrough role in 2010’s „Submarine“, but this is certainly a good follow-up. I kind of felt him channeling young Edward Norton and young Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which is a good company to hang out in.
"Fundamentals" is quite OK but it doesn't really hold together well, if you begin to think about it. But... there's still Rudd!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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