Movie Review: Shortcomings

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A very funny and intelligent romantic comedy. 

This film marks the feature length directorial debut (though he has directed some TV episodes) of actor and comedian Randall Park (Marvel fans might know him as Jimmy Woo in the Ant-Man movies and Wanda Vision). Even this early in his directorial career he proves himself to be a very mature filmmaker with a lot to say. He and writer Adrian Tomine (who also wrote the 2007 graphic novel on which this film was based) take what could have been a traditional romantic comedy and turn it into something much more powerful and insightful. Early in the film, the main character after attending a movie premiere of a film he hated stated that one of the problems with the movie he just watched was that the protagonists had no real flaws. This can certainly not be said of Shortcomings. In fact the flaws of the main characters are what this movie is all about. Our main protagonist is a pretentious want to be filmmaker who runs a small art house cinema and looks down his nose at anything currently mainstream (in one scene he talks about a co-worker saying that it is sad that all the movies he likes are on Disney+). Not only can he be a pretentious snob but most of his actions are completely selfish and this is especially true when it comes to his friendships and romantic relationships. While these major character flaws would be a death sentence to most romantic comedy films, they are what make this one special. This film is just as much a character study as a romantic comedy. Because of this while we may not like his actions, we can't help but see ourselves in him. We all have acted like this at times and we all have felt like him. Therefore it is hard not to feel somewhat of a connection to him. Also this movie is about him coming to terms with his faults and realizing that even though he is in his thirties, he is far from a mature adult. This is also something we can all relate to, because no matter what age we are we all have at least a little growing up to do. Because of this, we have a strong emotional connection to this far from traditionally likable character and go through each of the experiences with him. Also helping out is how touching his deep friendship is with his best friend. Even when these characters are fighting and angry at each other, you can tell how much they care about each other and this adds a lot of warmth to the movie in a seemingly effortless way. It doesn't hurt that Justin H. Min and Sherry Cola have simply wonderful chemistry together. 

It of course also doesn't hurt that this movie is laugh out loud hilarious. I expected to enjoy this film, but I did not expect to laugh the way I did. There are so many truly hilarious moments in this movie. Film buffs will especially love the conversations between the employees at the movie theater over various movies, as they are truly hilarious and all us movie people have heard conversations like these. Sherry Cola is truly hilarious in nearly every comedic moment she is given, showing us just how much of a comedic talent she is. However the bizarre comedic highlight is the act, one of our main character's co-workers at the movie theater puts on at a club. The act is so bizarre and simply a perfect parody of anything that tries to be experimental and artsy and fails miserably at being such. What makes the scene work so well is that as over the top and insane as it is, the parody is spot on for anyone who has ever seen this kind of art. 

Also simply how can I not love a romantic comedy that features clips from Yasujirō Ozu and François Truffaut films. 

This is simply a wonderful movie.