Ben Stiller makes a worthwhile start on a potential transition from comedy to drama...

In playing Greenberg in Noah Baumbach’s latest study of spoiled middle-class American intellectuals, Ben Stiller triumphs in his most challenging role to date.

House sitting while his brother and his family are on holiday in Vietnam, 40-year-old ex-mental patient, Roger Greenberg “tries to do nothing for a while”, taking a break from the carpenters studio he shares in Bushwick. Very little happens in the film but through a series of encounters with his brother’s personal assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig), and attempts to reconnect with the fractured relationships of his past, Greenberg manages to “finally embrace the life [he] never wanted.”

Greenberg is a larger than life character who somehow is still convincing enough to be real.

Generally aggravating and painful to spend time with, he’s not necessarily easy to relate to but is a good guy deep down and you can’t help rooting for him. He has trouble living in the present, plagued by a fifteen year regret and partially recognising his own failings, describing himself as “fair to middling – would get two and a half stars”.

Stiller really makes his character through a series of repetitive conversational themes and quirky idiosyncrasies, like the constant application of Chap Stick, brow-mopping and his defensive nature when labelled a Jew. Vulnerable and detached from reality, he finds human interaction difficult, preferring to be a backseat driver by writing regular letters of complaint to companies like Starbucks. He asks his brother “Can the pool overflow?” proving simple daily tasks and judgements are a challenge for him, which is why he unwittingly builds a relationship with Florence.

Their first date is painfully stilted as they comically split a Korona Light and Greenberg stands in uncomfortable close proximity to Florence. As their attachment blossoms, unnerved by his unnaturally close feelings, Greenberg tries to sabotage all chances of happiness by sudden explosive unwarranted anger tirades. He instantly repels any potentially humiliating or attention-grabbing situations, perfectly seen by his overreaction to his friend, Ivan (Rhys Ifans), requesting a Birthday song: “Just sit on my dick”.

Unintentionally funny, Greenberg’s sharp observations will raise a smirk – at his doomed Birthday meal he bluntly comments “laughing demonstrates appreciation – the applause seems superfluous” and while watching the guests at a children’s party, notices: “Men dress like children and children dress like superheroes”.

If Greenberg is the understated wit then Florence is the oddly attractive heart of the story.

Possessing her own problems, she is more in tune with who she is and her feelings, describing Greenberg’s dog as “a human in a dog costume” and defending Greenberg when her friend challenges their near union: “a mental patient just went down on you”.

"Greenberg is more well-observed thought-provoking comedy without the laughter than downright funny"

Perhaps the most memorable and well played scene of the film is Greenberg’s awful date with the soon-to-be-divorced ex-girlfriend, Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh), where she actively goes to find the waitress in order to get the bill and bring the painfully stunted conversation to a close. Florence and Greenberg’s absurd discussion about why they are seeing each other is also delightful to watch.

Baumbach shoots Greenberg’s paranoia beautifully, using outside-looking-in shots and filming from behind with a well-placed soundtrack by James Murphy, including “Please Don’t Follow Me”. It is only towards the end of the film at the “20-year-old Party” and the barbecue Greenberg tries to throw, that he finally admits he has OCD and allows himself to open up to others through an answer machine message.

Gerwig and Stiller’s outstanding complementary performances allow viewers to watch two emotionally stunted eccentric characters, riddled with their own personal neuroses, grow.

A compelling character-driven dysfunctional “love story”, Greenberg is more well-observed thought-provoking comedy without the laughter than downright funny. Approach knowing Baumbach intended it to be “a movie of moments between people” rather than a complex story and Greenberg makes for charming viewing.

Greenberg is on general release now

Director: Noah Baumbach
Writer: Noah Baumbach, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Certificate: 15
Running time: 107 minutes
Starring: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rhys Ifans, Chris Messina, Jake Paltrow

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