“NOT YOUR EVERYDAY LOVE STORY”
Starring:Â Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Chris Messina
Directed by:Â Noah Baumbach
MPAA Rating: R for some strong sexuality, drug use and language
Genre: Drama with comedy
Here’s a little drama from Academy Award-nominated screenwriter/director Noah Baumbach that gets so depressing it looses the enjoyment of it’s love story that is really at the heart of the plot. Greenberg reminded me of several Woody Allen films all rolled into one. The main characters are so down in the dumps that whatever comedy there may have been gets sucked up in all the complaining.
The movie centers on two people, Roger Greenberg a single guy in his 40’s living in New York who’s looking for a more stable life. The second subject is Florence, a woman who likes a simple life but also aspires to be a singer some day. Roger accepts to house sit for his brother so he can vacation abroad. Florence, Phillips’s loyal assistant, agrees to look in on Roger and their dog regularly. The two meet at Phillips home and she finds Roger stranded because he forgot how to drive. Not wanting to loose her job she offers to help Roger get around while he is staying there. When she starts getting close to him, however she finds that he is more than which she bargained.
The film starts out quite nicely while we learn of their quirky lives, but then it starts to come apart as the characters personalities grow tiring. Roger complains about most everything while Florence appeases each of Roger’s doubts and uncertainties, even his desire for sex. When the film strikes a spark of a possible romance between the two I thought it would take a turn for the better, but no such luck. Acting, directing and cinematography could not save the uninteresting storyline from a ho-hum below average ranking.
I did like Greta Gerwig however, and she certainly knows how to draw attention to what’s happening on the screen. She was able to capture the ‘pain Jane’ personality of Florence and was the one bright spot in the film.
Greenberg is rated R for strong sexuality, drug use and language so take heed when thinking of bringing immature children of any age to a showing.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Not the kind of film you want to see after a tough day at work. (2.5 of 5 Palm Trees)