WHILE WE’RE YOUNG (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

While We’re Young takes its time to get into its story. The viewer repeatedly finds itself sitting on the sidelines waiting for the characters that Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts portray to ‘get it’ and move on. At the same time, the sweet taste of the underlying story theme becomes difficult to ignore and by the middle of the movie gathers its own force as the main characters race toward a seemingly inevitable conclusion. Casting creates an interesting dichotomy with the placement of Ben Stiller with Adam Driver. They work together like salt around the rim of a good Margarita. Adam Driver (J. Edgar, Lincoln, Llewelyn Davis, Tracks) shows exceptional talent and is worth keeping an eye on for future films. Watch for Amanda Seyfried from Les Misérables.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Josh (Ben Stiller) and his wife Cornelia (Naomi Watts) do not make the approach to middle age and the transition into family life in the usual straight forward fashion. They take a detour that involves returning to youth by developing a relationship with Jamie (Adam Driver) and his wife Darby (Amanda Seyfried), a much younger couple.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Noah Baumbach for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Noah Baumbach, Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, and Lila Yacoub for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Marina (Maria Dizzia), Fletcher (Adam Horovitz), Tim (Matthew Maher), Ira Mandelstam (Peter Yarrow), Ira’s Wife (Bonnie Kaufman), Frank (Hector Otero), New School Woman (Deborah Eisenberg), Tipper (Dree Hemingway), Benny (Matthew Shear), Elise (Annie Baker), Pepper (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), and Music Class Band (James Manzello).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Ben Stiller has an irresistible screen presence that carries every film in which he stars. This film is no exception to that rule. However, the story runs slowly, seems quite boring at times, and lacks the usual Ben Stiller comedic effect. 

Video Review Available Here:

Ben Meyers