While We’re Young
Written and Directed by Noah Baumbach
Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Grodin
The basic premise of WHILE WE’RE YOUNG seems oh, so familiar. A forty-something couple, male (Stiller) and female (Watts) yearn for the freedom they find in new twenty-something friends (Driver and Seyfried). Stiller also basks in the adulation Driver lays on him.
What makes this film stand out is that Stiller doesn’t really appear burdened with any of the responsibilities you would expect at all. Nor does Watt. An exceedingly indulgent father-in-law (Grodin) finances their projects in fact.
But they don’t quite fit in with their peers, who all have kids and better careers. So throwing themselves in with a couple who is even more carefree than themselves isn’t much of a stretch.
Of course, there is another issue kink in the situation. But that would constitute a spoiler .
This is a well acted, well directed, and intelligent movie. It barely plays as a comedy at all. Instead it examines two lives that went off-track. Stiller would do well do continue in this vein and leave movies like A NIGHT IN THE MUSEUM far behind. And Will Farrell should do likewise.
Patti Abbott
In addition to being the Crimespree Senior Film Critic, Patti has penned numerous short stories and her debut novel, CONCRETE ANGEL, will be published on June 9th . She hosts a look at Forgotten Books every Friday with readers, writers and reviewers at pattinase.blogspot.com. She hopes you’ll join in.
