Released in theaters: 3/26/10 (Limited)
Greenberg, written and directed by Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding) based on a story by Jennifer Jason Leigh, is a quirky dramedy that doesn’t quite fit into a certain genre, other then the director’s signature strange film. It’s a character study following the extremely odd Roger Greenberg played by normally funny guy Ben Stiller taking on a dramatic role. We see his strange and lonely life as he starts a relationship with a younger woman Florence played wonderfully by Greata Gerwig. I’m usually a fan of Noah Baumbach’s writing and I respect him as an artist as he always seem to create real life sadness with hints of his strange humor mixed in, but Greenberg slightly misses the mark with a story that doesn’t quite go anywhere when it’s all said and done.
The story follows Roger Greenberg played by Ben Stiller, he is single, forty and at a crossroads in his life. He finds himself in Los Angeles, house-sitting for six weeks for his more successful brother. In search of a place to restart his life, Greenberg tries to reconnect with old friends including his former band mate Ivan played by Rhys Ifans. But old friends aren’t necessarily still best friends, and Greenberg soon finds himself spending more and more time with his brother’s personal assistant Florence played by Greta Gerwig, an aspiring singer and also something of a lost soul. Despite his best attempts not to be drawn in, Greenberg and Florence manage to forge a connection, and Greenberg realizes he may at last have found a reason to be happy.
Ben Stiller plays such a weird character that it’s hard to relate or feel for him in any way. He’s a failed musician who now works as a carpenter, but is pretty much content with doing nothing at this certain point in time. The relationship that he makes with Florence is so awkward that there are some scenes that are pretty hard to watch, especially an awkward sex scene which has become Stiller’s forte. There are a few scenes where Stiller loses it and I was really impressed with the range he could show as an actor, but in the end I didn’t really like his character because he never grows, it seems like he went through this whole experience just to come out being the same person in the end. Greta Gerwig is also a very strange person and you kind of just feel sorry for her the whole entire movie, by the end I didn’t really understand why she wanted anything to do with Stiller’s character. It’s Stiller’s relationship with his brother’s dog that he is watching that you feel the most for. Gerwig really did an excellent job with what she was given though, playing her part was so realistic in being the lost soul who didn’t know what she was really doing with her life. I’m excited to see what she has coming up because she seems like she could be a fantastic actor given the right direction.
Noah Baumbach is really a master at making the audience feel uncomfortable. His movies always deal with some sort of dysfunctional relationship and usually have some touchy subjects mixed in. I must say though his endings are always very thought provoking and they tend to stay with you for awhile even if your not really satisfied in the end. The Squid and the Whale I though was fantastic, which combined great characters with a solid script and an ending that was fun to think about and break down. Greenberg on the other hand is one I wish turned out differently, and even though I seem to be thinking a lot about it, its usually not good things that are running through my head.
I wouldn’t recommend this to the normal moviegoer because it is a quirky strange film that doesn’t quite satisfy in the end result.
IMDB: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
Moviewiseguys: 6.0/10