Will Forte continues his transition into serious actorhood with this indie, which sees him playing an American doctor living with an Irish family. The carpenter father, Conor (Edward MacLiam), has suffered a stroke that’s radically altered his personality; his wife Vanetia (Maxine Peake) is struggling to hold things together with their business and two kids, while Forte’s Ted observes Conor’s behavior for research purposes.

The unorthodox arrangement makes for an evolving mesh of personalities, as Ted begins his stay as a reserved, neutral observer and gradually befriends free-spirited, frustrated Vanetia in spite of himself — while both are trying to help Conor regain his memories, use of language and motor skills. Meanwhile, the couple’s teenage son, Lenny (Brendan Morris), is struggling with his sexuality — not helped when his impaired father shouts homophobic slurs at him in public.

Peake does a wonderful job conveying her character’s essential young-at-heartness despite a heavy load of responsibilities and grief, and Forte shines as the tentative Ted learning to step off of life’s sidelines. Helming her first feature, director Steph Green makes “Run & Jump” a small January gem.