To Be Young Again

While We’re Young

Everyone gets older. Nothing anyone of us can do about it, but it is how we all handle the aging process that will help us coupe with it. Of course Hollywood has given their unique insight into aging with amazing films like About Schmidt, Up, and even Harold and Maude. In 2014 A24 Films added to that illustrious list of films with the funny While We’re Young.

Josh Schrebnick (Ben Stiller Night at the Museum) is a documentarian that has been working on the same project for the last 10 years. Married to his mentor’s daughter, Cornelia (Naomi Watts Birdman), the couple has been feeling old of late. That is until they meet Jamie (Adam Driver This Is Where I Leave You) and Darby Massey (Amanda Seyfried Ted 2), a young couple that seem to be full of life and kindness. Soon Josh and Cornelia must figure out if there life needs changing or if it was perfect just the way it was.

This is going to be a simple review for quite a plain film. While We’re Young was neither horrible or amazing. The cast was well acted but not magnificent and the direction was decent but not overly wonderful. This was an okay movie but just not a memorable one. The film asks intriguing questions about age and how we see ourselves but it never does anything groundbreaking with the subject.

I prefer Stiller in these low key dramedy roles because I never really found him funny. Here Stiller brings a charm and a little bit of innocence to Josh that is unique for a character of his age. He does a good job of becoming relatable along with his uptight co-star. Watts plays Cornelia likable, but snooty as well. I can’t really find another way to describe her, but she does it well. Driver gives Jamie a very high energy and a different style of kindness, however when it comes to the younger characters I had a problem.

Director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) gives a voice to Generation X like they have never been given before. What I didn’t like his how he made Millennials a bunch of entitled and deceptive group of people. I’m not too sure why Baumbach views that generation that way, but I can say that I would be offended if I was a Millennial. From a filmmaking standpoint, Baumbach is splendid at capturing the inner emotions of the two main characters.

I told you that this was going to be a simple review. The cast is good and Baumbach is amicable, but this film is not going to jump out and wow you. I won’t advise to skip this film altogether, but I am going to say please don’t go out of your way to see it.

The Verdict: Watch on HBO/Netflix