Movie Review: Greenberg

Roger Greenberg moves from New York to Los Angeles to housesit for his brother and get his life in order. Greenberg is an odd guy whose brother tolerates him. When Greenberg meets his brother’s assistant, Florence Marr, he resists the connection between them. Greenberg is lost, trying to  reach back to his past for some semblance of sanity.

Ben Stiller is excellent in the title role of Roger Greenberg. This is a thankless character that you care about even if you don’t agree with his caustic ways or enjoy his depressive personality. The cast is strong, with an outstanding performance by Greta Gerwig, Greenberg’s love interest. Stiller and Gerwig’s chemistry is impressive as these two lonely people try to connect. This is a tough role Stiller takes on to make an unlikeable guy someone you care about. Somehow Stiller manages this without added sentiment to the character.

This is a low key, quirky comedy with painful moments and great character studies. If you don’t mind thinking while watching your comedy this is a movie you’re sure enjoy.

2010. Written by Noah Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Leigh, directed by Noah Baumbach. Starring Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Chris Messina, Susan Traylor, Merritt Wever and Jennifer Jason Leigh..

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