If you have ever seen a movie written and directed by Noah Baumbach, then you already know what Greenberg is about: neuroses, witty banter, disappointing love, and being unsatisfied with life. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the movie. Greenberg is extremely funny. Even the several awkward and tense moments are punctuated with smart and/or hilarious lines. However, Baumbach knows how to turn two hours of laughter into a depressing aftertaste.
Over the years I have thoroughly enjoyed Baumbach’s films. After graduating college, I completely related to Kicking and Screaming and watched it hundreds of times, learning the witty lines and repeating them whenever I could (which I’m sure was received as annoying). I acclaimed The Squid and the Whale as much as the critics did, even though I found it slightly more disturbing. I even held Margot at the Wedding close to my heart. However, after watching Greenberg I realized that all of these movies left me feeling as though life were completely pointless and inane. This may be true, but I’m not sure if I want to think this on a regular basis.
It’s true that many of the films written and directed by Noah Baumbach, including Greenberg, have an ever so slightly turn toward the positive ending. However, after two hours of comedic pessimism, it is not enough to make the viewer believe that everyone lives happily ever after.
With this said, I must repeat that I really enjoyed Greenberg. Greta Gerwig gives a wonderful performance in the leading female role. She was not on my radar before seeing this film, but I will be sure to look for future Greta Gerwig projects from now on. Ben Stiller seemed believable as a neurotic, aimless man who recently left a mental hospital (although, at times, it was hard not to be reminded of Stiller’s comedic performances in films such as Meet the Parents). Another moving performance came from Rhys Ifans, as a frustrated and beaten-down friend of Ben Stiller’s character, Roger Greenberg.
Roger Greenberg is placed firmly outside normal society. Throughout the film, he is consistently rejected by those around him. Part of what causes these rejections are the awkward, yet extremely funny comments that Roger creates. For example, in response to the statement that youth is wasted on the young, Roger says, “I’d go further. I’d go: Life is wasted on…people.” There are great lines like this all over this movie. I found myself laughing in nearly every scene.
Regardless of the comedy, or maybe in spite of it, Baumbach ended this film with a small sweet moment that nullified all of the laughing I had done and left me feeling thoroughly depressed. This seems to be Baumbach’s forte: making the viewer think about life and our loved ones—and our fears of loneliness—in the last few minutes (maybe even seconds) of the film, so that we are confronted with what makes life challenging and sometimes unbearable. These poetic, concise moments at the end of his films seem to hit so directly at the core of love and humanity that it leaves the viewer wondering if they are even possible (love and humanity).
I praise Baumbach for his ability to do this, but I wonder if he doesn’t need a therapist or even just a good hug. He has a great sense of humor but, if making his films is anything like watching them, he must be left feeling as though the best moments in life are unachievable (or extremely rare). At least he can laugh at the more uncomfortable aspects of being human.
I would hate to end this review without mentioning two things. One, Noah Baumbach’s wife, Jennifer Jason Leigh co-wrote the script for Greenberg with him, and they did a great job. Two, when watching this film, be prepared for Ben Stiller’s very annoying hair, punctuated by a moment in the film when he cuts a piece off.
