Ideal Home is a 2018 family dramedy written and directed by Andrew Fleming (The Craft).
Erasmus Brumble (Steve Coogan) is a celebrity chef and television personality who hosts as cooking show produced by his boyfriend, Paul (Paul Rudd). Despite their antagonistic relationship on (and off) set, they've been together for a decade, but the cracks in their foundation are getting bigger.
When Erasmus' estranged grandson Bill (Jack Gore) shows up, Erasmus and Paul's strained relationship is put to the test — if they can't provide the kid a suitable living environment, he'll become subject to the foster care system.
Ideal Home provides examples of:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Erasmus and Paul are called in by Bill's teacher after Bill reads a report containing gay slurs out loud to his class. Both of them are in hysterics as they read the same report.
- Aerith and Bob: The lead couple are named Erasmus Brumble and Paul.
- But Not Too Gay: Averted. Erasmus and Paul are not only seen kissing, but interrupted mid-coitus at one point also.
- The Cameo: Kate Walsh and Chopped's Alex Guarnaschelli make brief appearances as two of Erasmus and Paul's friends.
- Camp Gay: In contrast with Paul, Erasmus is highly flamboyant.
- Can't Live with Them, Can't Live Without Them: Paul with Erasmus. The former is shown to get annoyed with the latter's antics several times but still sticks by him nevertheless.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Tino, the attractive young gay man living with the gay couple whose relationship is going through a rough patch.
- Deadpan Snarker: Paul, as it is usual for characters played by Paul Rudd.
- Embarrassing First Name: Bill hates being called Angel, and picks a new name for himself the opportunity he's given one.
- Gay Cowboy: As citizens of Santa Fe, Erasmus and Paul both embody this aesthetic to varying degrees. Erasmus' show is Southwest-inspired, while Paul is often seen wearing denim and —at one point— a cowboy hat.
- Innocently Insensitive: In one scene Bill reads a report on his home life aloud in class, and explains that his parental figures are gay. He then goes on to list all the slurs that you should definitely not use to describe gay people. His teachers are horrified at the homophobic and profane terms, but Bill seems completely genuine and sincere, and Erasmus and Paul find the whole thing hilarious.
- Mr. Fanservice: A lot of people noticed that Paul Rudd kept his Ant-Man physique. The beard just added to his sex appeal. He appears shirtless and once in a sleeveless tank top.
- No Antagonist: Bill's dad is a bad father, but he does genuinely love his son, and he's more a lost soul than a bad person. Likewise, Bill is realistically rough-around-the-edges for a kid who's had an unstable home life, but he's not a devil child. The other characters who present problems for the three leads are all pretty reasonable, from their own perspectives, and the conflicts are driven by the characters adjusting to a very new situation. Notably, the main characters are a prominent gay couple and, aside from Bill using some slurs around at the beginning, they never encounter any homophobia in the film.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Erasmus' entire personality is flighty, unserious, and constantly treating everything like a joke. When Paul breaks up with him, he continues to act unconcerned and playful, until Paul is about to pull out of the driveway, at which point he becomes deadly serious and pleads with Paul to stay.
- Protagonist-Centered Morality: When Beau drives while intoxicated, with Bill in the car, it's treated as unforgiveable and he loses custody. Earlier in the film, Erasmus drives Bill to Taco Bell several drinks deep, with another drink in his hand, and it's Played for Laughs with no consequences.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Melissa the social worker. Her only focus seems to be making sure that Bill is safe and in a good home and holds no prejudice towards a same-sex couple fostering a child. She calls them out for leaving their extensive porn stash lying around, and for letting Bill live off Taco Bell, but allows them time to make changes and adjust. She's also very aware of how damaging it would be to remove Bill, and treats that option as a last resort.
- Straight Gay: Paul isn't particularly flamboyant or obviously "gay".
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The Danza: Paul is played by Paul Rudd. - Upper-Class Twit: Erasmus comes off as being this.
- The Voiceless: Bill starts off this way, refusing to say much about himself or even tell Erasmus and Paul his name.
- They Really Do Love Each Other: Paul and Erasmus are often shown to be at odds with each other but still know and care about each other totally. In the third act, Paul finally gets fed up, leaves Erasmus, and takes a job offer in New York, but by the time his plane lands, he realizes he misses Erasmus and goes back to Santa Fe to be with him.
- On a platonic note, Bill doesn't get off to a great start with either Erasmus or Paul, but by the end of the movie, it's clear he's developed a strong parent-child bond with both of them.
- Who Names Their Kid "Dude"?: Bill's birth name is Angel, given to him by his mother because she loved angels. Erasmus and Paul have this reaction upon learning it. Of course Erasmus isn't any less strange.
