The Do-Deca-Pentathlon

Jay and Mark Duplass have been making eccentric comedies since establishing their “mumblecore” indie-cred with 2005's The Puffy Chair, confidently returning here to their low-budget roots with a tale of sibling rivalry run amuck. Inspired by real brothers Mark and Anton Solak, former neighbors of the Duplasses, the tale begins when thirtysomething Mark (Steve Zissis) returns to his native New Orleans with his wife, Stephanie (Jennifer Lafleur), for a birthday party planned by his mom (Julie Vorus). For reasons that soon become apparent, brother Jeremy (Mark Kelly) wasn't invited, but the latter abandons his latest high-stakes poker game and shows up anyway. Before long, simmering tensions flare up and the brothers decide to repeat a 25-event sports tournament (the Do-Deca-Pentathlon) that they invented as teenagers in 1990. That inaugural event controversially ended in a parentally-decreed tie; now, two decades later, the brothers are dysfunctionally eager for a rematch. With wrestling, go-karting, ping-pong, arm wrestling, and even laser-tag on the event schedule, the brothers become so intensely embattled that Stephanie fears her out-of-shape husband could suffer a heart attack. It's all handled with ample humor and universal appeal in this winning comedy-drama that will surely resonate with competitive siblings. Recommended. (J. Shannon)