The Fundamentals of Caring
A road trip comedy-drama about a caregiver and a teenager with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The Fundamentals of Caring is a 2016 American road comedy-drama film written and directed by Rob Burnett, based on the 2012 novel The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison. It stars Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, and Selena Gomez. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2016, and was released on Netflix on June 24, 2016.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Rob Burnett
- Producer
- Rob Burnett
- Donna Gigliotti
- James Spies
- Based on
- The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, Jonathan Evison
- Starring
- Paul Rudd
- Craig Roberts
- Selena Gomez
- Music
- Ryan Miller
- Cinematography
- Giles Nuttgens
- Editing
- Christopher Passig
- Studio
- Worldwide Pants; Levantine Films
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Ben, an out-of-work writer in Seattle avoiding his estranged wife's attempts to serve him divorce papers, completes a six-week caregiver course. He is hired by Elsa, an English bank office manager, to care for her 18-year-old son Trevor, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Ben adapts to Trevor's routine and bonds with the sardonic, sexually frustrated teenager. Trevor reveals his father left when he was diagnosed at age 3 and sends letters that Trevor ignores. Elsa and her son know Ben is coping with the death of his young son; she warns Ben not to become too close to Trevor, fearing Trevor will be hurt when Ben moves on. Fascinated with American roadside attractions, Trevor convinces Ben to take a road trip to see the world's deepest pit, and Trevor also asks to visit his father, who owns a car dealership in Salt Lake City. At a gas station, Trevor develops a crush on a hitchhiker named Dot. When they see her again outside a diner, Ben invites her to join them; Dot says she is heading to Denver to restart her life. At a motel, Ben suspects they are being followed by someone sent by his wife. They find pregnant Peaches with a broken-down car and offer her a ride. Trevor asks Dot on a date to a diner, and she accepts. The four confront Trevor's father at his dealership; he admits Elsa wrote all the letters herself and offers money instead. The group leaves, and after lashing out, Trevor and Ben prepare to drive home, but Dot insists they complete the journey. At the deepest pit, Dot, Trevor, and Peaches go to the bottom while Ben waits at the top. He confronts the follower, who is Dot's father Cash, wanting to ensure she reaches Denver safely. Ben receives a frantic call from Dot and races down, finding Peaches in labor. He helps deliver her baby, overcoming his guilt over his son's death.
Production
On October 11, 2012, Worldwide Pants' Rob Burnett and Jon Beckerman acquired the film rights to Jonathan Evison's novel. Burnett adapted and directed the film, with Donna Gigliotti and James Spies producing. Paul Rudd was cast on January 7, 2015, and Selena Gomez joined on January 13. The original title, The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, was changed to The Fundamentals of Caring on December 7. Bobby Cannavale, Frederick Weller, and Craig Roberts were also cast. Principal photography began on January 22, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional filming in Cartersville, Georgia, concluding on February 26, 2015, after 26 days.
Release
The closing night film at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, The Fundamentals of Caring debuted on January 29. Netflix secured the worldwide streaming rights that same month, before the festival premiere, and released it on June 24, 2016. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned an 80% approval from 35 reviews, averaging 7.7 out of 10. The site's summary highlights how the movie capitalizes on the strong rapport between its two main actors, despite following a familiar road-trip coming-of-age formula. Metacritic assigned a score of 55 out of 100 from 10 critics, reflecting mixed or average reception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for The Fundamentals of Caring?
The music for The Fundamentals of Caring was composed by Ryan Miller.
How long is The Fundamentals of Caring?
The Fundamentals of Caring has a running time of 93 minutes.
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