FilmSnobReviews

Title: Shortcomings
MPA Rating: R
Director: Randall Park
Starring: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins

What It Is: Miko (Maki) and Ben (Min) have been dating for quite sometime and things…well things aren’t really going well. Miko is an ambitious woman and when she has the chance to take an internship in New York City she does. Now they’re on a break and Ben really doesn’t know what to do with himself. With some help from his best friend Alice (Cola) he’ll get to experience that single life in San Francisco while his love is 3,000 miles away.

What We Think: Ben is such an unlikable protagonist. That being said you can’t build a character arc without the flaws. Park directs the Adrian Tomine script perfectly. Miko and Ben as characters are both equally unlikable. Miko however, in the beginning, you understand her prickly demeanor. Not only is the film funny, which as a comedy tends to be the most important thing, but the characters, all of them are going through something. But all the characters feel real and even though their situations are somewhat wacky at times. Like I don’t know where the money is coming from because there’s no way Ben can live in that city with that job. Same goes for Miko and what she does throughout the film. I won’t go into it for spoiler reasons.

Our Grade: A-, Such an interesting and fun film. A comedy that’s equal parts real and funny. The characters that are here are so very relatable. All of them. You really want all of them to get their happy ending. In the end they just don’t, not in the way we want them to. This is a high recommend. I loved the film personally. I found it to be such a fun and refreshing piece that really is what 2023 ordered. Check it out!