The Fundamentals of Caring

Rob Burnett’s “The Fundamentals of Caring,” released theatrically today as well on Netflix after premiering at Sundance, expands on its title with the acronym ALOHA—Ask, Listen, Observe, Help, Ask Again. These are the fundamental requirements of a caregiver, as explained to Paul Rudd’s Ben, a retired writer trying to cope with unimaginable grief by essentially finding a surrogate son for the one he lost. Of course, the film exists to prove the rather simplistic ALOHA incorrect.