Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried
The indie dramedy, While We're Young, tells the story of a 40-something married couple, Josh (Stiller) and Cornelia (Watts), who begin to feel distanced from their friends who have children. After attending one of Josh's film classes, they meet a young, hipster couple, Jamie (Driver) and Darby (Seyfried) and begin to have a youthful revival of their lives. But, soon find out the friendship isn't all that it seems.
Stiller (who I personally like acting wise, I'm not ashamed to say Along Came Polly is one of my favorite movies), plays struggling film documentary maker Josh, who has failed to release a new film in years but has been working on a specific historical one for at least ten years. Cornelia (portrayed by Watts) is a more successful film producer, presumably due to the fact her father is a well known filmmaker. As soon as you see them both on screen the scene portrays them uncomfortable around their longtime friends who have just become parents. It's clear they no longer have much in common with their pals as the dynamic has shifted from friends to baby. Josh and Cornelia appear to be a average, happy married couple even though they can't remember the last time they took a vacation or shocked to see how long ago a certain event was. They are getting older...and they realize this. Josh teaches a non-credit film course and after a painful class (Josh doesn't know how to fix a PowerPoint), Jamie and Darby come over to introduce themselves. Jamie ( Driver, who is more commonly known for his work on the HBO hit Girls) and Darby (Seyfried) are the quintessential hipster, Brooklyn couple. They ride bikes everywhere, make vintage products seem cooler than what they are, and at first appear to be a perfect couple. Josh is taken with the couple and soon introduces them to Cornelia, who has her doubts about Jamie but likes Darby. Soon Josh and Cornelia are blowing off their older friends to hang out with their new, young friends. Josh decides to help Jamie follow his dreams and help him make a documentary on a Facebook style project. Through the filming, Josh begins to realize how entitled Jamie is and it take a look at young people today and differences of the past and a look towards the future.
The acting was great! Stiller and Watts were perfect in their roles, even though I'm in my 20's I could emphasize with the couple. In one scene, Cornelia sees one of her best friends out with her new "mommy friends" and they invite her to come along to a Wiggles-esque show with the babies. It shows exactly how people with no children feel when they attend something of that nature. Stiller acts similar in many of his films, I'm glad he didn't go too over the top and loud with the role. It's clear his character wants to emulate his new, young friend and Stiller does a great job with that (love it when Jeff begins dressing like Jamie complete with a fedora style hat). Adam Driver is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors, I've been watching Girls since the first season and he keeps getting better and better. He just sort of has that appeal to him, he can play the trendy, fun hipster guy because that's what he appears to be in real life. However, I'm not sure the writers had to make him so unlikeable in this film. Or maybe it could have been done more gradual, Jamie goes from charming to sleazy in just a few scenes. But, if the point was to make the audience dislike him then they did their job. Seyfried is a good actress but she just seems kind of there in this movie. I wish you could have gotten to see more of Jamie and Darby without Cornelia and Josh so you could have more of a feel of the couple and their relationship. Still, I think all the actors did wonderful in their respected roles.
I won't give away everything that happens in the movie but I think the ending was pretty clever and makes you think at the same time. I would recommend this indie, perfect for date night or a night out with friends. Watch the trailer to While We're Young here!
While We're Young is in theaters everywhere now.
Let me know if you've seen this film! Did you like it? Plan on seeing it?
The acting was great! Stiller and Watts were perfect in their roles, even though I'm in my 20's I could emphasize with the couple. In one scene, Cornelia sees one of her best friends out with her new "mommy friends" and they invite her to come along to a Wiggles-esque show with the babies. It shows exactly how people with no children feel when they attend something of that nature. Stiller acts similar in many of his films, I'm glad he didn't go too over the top and loud with the role. It's clear his character wants to emulate his new, young friend and Stiller does a great job with that (love it when Jeff begins dressing like Jamie complete with a fedora style hat). Adam Driver is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors, I've been watching Girls since the first season and he keeps getting better and better. He just sort of has that appeal to him, he can play the trendy, fun hipster guy because that's what he appears to be in real life. However, I'm not sure the writers had to make him so unlikeable in this film. Or maybe it could have been done more gradual, Jamie goes from charming to sleazy in just a few scenes. But, if the point was to make the audience dislike him then they did their job. Seyfried is a good actress but she just seems kind of there in this movie. I wish you could have gotten to see more of Jamie and Darby without Cornelia and Josh so you could have more of a feel of the couple and their relationship. Still, I think all the actors did wonderful in their respected roles.
I won't give away everything that happens in the movie but I think the ending was pretty clever and makes you think at the same time. I would recommend this indie, perfect for date night or a night out with friends. Watch the trailer to While We're Young here!
While We're Young is in theaters everywhere now.
Let me know if you've seen this film! Did you like it? Plan on seeing it?
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