Greenberg **** (2010, Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rhys Ifans) – Classic Movie Review 814

Ben Stiller does well in a straightish role as 40ish layabout Roger Greenberg, who is making a five-course banquet out of his middle-age crisis, in writer-director Noah Baumbach’s intelligent and entertaining, if rather depressingly sad, bitter-sweet comedy drama.

A New Yorker with nothing but time on his hands, he goes to LA to housesit for his vacationing brother, and soon falls for his brother’s young executive assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig).

It says much for Stiller and his considerable skills that he manages to make his character – and the film – interesting, even though the man’s very annoying and alienating, meaning you don’t basically care a jot about him. Gerwig is very appealing in her offbeat way, though, and so, oddly, is Rhys Ifans as Stiller’s old buddy from their band-playing days.

Greenberg is sour, world-weary stuff that could win some admirers for its feeling of truth and core of good heart. With its quirky flavour, it has cult status written all over it. And it is a good move away from comedy blockbusters for Stiller.

It is based on a story co-written by Jennifer Jason Leigh, who has a small role in the movie, directed by her talented husband Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding).

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