While We’re Young Review

RYAN: This is a new indie dramedy from writer/director Noah Baumbach.  I’ve liked his previous movies Greenberg, Margot at the Wedding, The Squid and the Whale and Frances Ha.    He often cowrites with his pal Wes Anderson, but I more consistently prefer Noah’s films.

ERIK: I also saw and liked Greenberg.

RYAN: I love this movie.  It speaks to you on so many levels, touching upon many universal themes.  It’s brilliant and satisfying entertainment.

ERIK: It really is.  Many great performances and the premise is simple – older couple hangs out with younger couple – but there’s so much more going on.  It’s a very rich movie.

RYAN: The main premise, which also speaks to the title, really plays upon the duality of aging and FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – as you age, wanting to still feel culturally relevant. But then also the way, the young interpret the older, with respect or wanting to learn from, and way all of the themes come to life in this movie is outstanding.

ERIK: Yeah Ben Stiller and Adam Driver’s characters contrast in such interesting ways – one older, the other younger, but what they’re into is almost at odds with their generations.

RYAN: Right but then also that rebellion against their generation makes them, like, hipsters.  It’s wild.  The younger generation want different aspects of each other.  There’s so much social brilliant commentary about technology and evolution, the way social interactions are changing.  This film makes funny and poignant points about those things.  The casting is great.  I always prefer Ben Stiller in a drama and he’s great here and his wife is played by Naomi Watts who’s outstanding – funny, real… they both look great.

ERIK: I really appreciated Naomi more in this film than others I’ve seen with her recently.  Ben’s character is very flawed but sympathetic throughout the whole movie.  He’s in a dramatic role yet it’s fun to watch him.  Not as depressing as Greenberg.  This is a much happier film.

RYAN: Then we have Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried as the younger couple and they are fantastic too.  Sometimes Adam annoys me but his peculiarities work for him in this role so he’s great.  I love Amanda.  And then Charles Grodin, it’s cool to see again on the big screen!

ERIK: He has a great presence and gravitas.  He plays a sage-like character.

RYAN: It’s shot in New York which looks great and several moments felt like a more modern , edgier Woody Allen movie.  Because it’s NYC, a great ensemble piece, and character driven with a thorough arc, it feel Woody Allen-ish.

ERIK: Yes stylistically and the characters – Ben’s character is like a typical Woody Allen protagonist.

RYAN: Totally – neurotic and worrisome.  The story is so great.  It plays upon the fantasizes we have as an audience watching a movie, but then instead of being predictable Hollywood storytelling, it goes in the direction of reality and I loved that.  You’re frustrated and let down but then there’s a resolution.  It’s just so satisfying.  That’s the emotional journey this film takes you on.

ERIK: Some alternative films do leave you feeling empty but you’re right – even when this film shirks you, you still feel very fulfilled.

RYAN: Costumes and music are such an integral part of the storytelling as well.  It’s just great cinematic storytelling.

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