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The Fundamentals of Caring

The Fundamentals of Caring

Comedy · Drama · 2016

Having suffered a tragedy, Ben becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor, is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship.

Movie details

The Fundamentals of Caring

“Caring is a funny thing.”

2016 Comedy · Drama 1h 37m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

Having suffered a tragedy, Ben becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor, is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Fundamentals of Caring?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Gary

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Rob Burnett

Written by

Rob Burnett

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd

Ben Benjamin

Craig Roberts

Craig Roberts

Trevor Conklin

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez

Dot

Jennifer Ehle

Jennifer Ehle

Elsa Conklin

Megan Ferguson

Megan Ferguson

Peaches

Frederick Weller

Frederick Weller

Bob Richardson

Julia Denton

Julia Denton

Janet

Court is in session

Put The Fundamentals of Caring on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.