While We're Young

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Nothing about this tedious movie is truthful. The writing is so self-consciously hip that it calls attention to the writing and not the story or the characters. The acting is atrocious. Every actor says their lines but there is absolutely no emotional connection between any character with any other character. No chemistry anywhere. The situations are contrived and cringeworthy. Hip hop dance class for the 43 year old that leads to her hip hopping during a phone conversation and encouraging her preternaturally aged 44 year old husband (Ben Stiller was too old for the role. ) to do the same. Nope. A retreat where everyone vomits up their demons. Nope. Pet chickens. Nope. Anything that happens in this movie is a big Nope Nope Nope. We paid 99 cents to watch this movie. We were robbed.

This is a lovely movie really, it is at least equanimous in its portrayal of the younger and the old - all sides are in a way quite unlikeable! Here, it's the young with thier ruthlessness and blind ambition, and the olders dragging a resentment of the young and a fathomless nostalgia everywhere. For me the film with its many little facets offers at least as much edification as entertainment, but with some really funny moments like the tantric mescaline vomiting party and the paralysed sexuality of the the lead couple. Ben Stiller seems really good at being quite so mixed up at 44, having achieved very little creatively. The young folk are intriguing and cool, but again it's hard to find a really likeable character anywhere, but it's redeemed for me by the philosophy, the psychological insight, and the gentle sustained comedy. The truth be told, we middle aged are not always easy to like - we're fussy and tedious. The tacked on unessessry ending can't disguise the fact.

I got 30 mins in and had to turn it off it was just to cringey. I was expecting a comedy and all i got was a movie trying to hard out of desperation to be cool.

Well, the fact that I regard the movie to be stacked for a barren weekend means I found it watchable indeed. Good actors in the lead and good direction. But that apart it was irritating script n story. Not even one dialogue that stays with you. Does turning 30+ or spilling into 40 make people desperate ... common ... people earn those yrs and such scripts are over used and over dramatic unless there is a real good plot at heart. The character Jamie played by Adam Driver was ill conceived as it was so full of over gestures and goodness that it stinks from the beginning. Maybe a tad bit character development there would have made it all digestible. The movie is maligned by typical scenes of reel world - people with kids going la la crazy - youth finding solace in drug induced trance and silly religious acts - drug induced kissing! So if u have run out of options for ur weekend, maybe give this movie a watch.......

Little film somewhat comedic. I think they were off with the characters, quite a bit was forced. It was like caricaturing. Not all that bad in itself. I give it a pass. The young is not more cheating than the old, it's a personality trait.

Intelligent comedy about a "lost" middle-aged couple trying to find "meaning" by connecting with a younger couple. But there's much more to this movie especially when we come across a storyline concerning what is fake or real in the media. The comedy is great too ("I didn't mean 'bless you' in the sneeze sense. In the Pope sense!") Both leads are wonderful and I'm not usually a Ben Stiller fan. In under 90 mins, the writer/director has made a tight movie that is smart and has real feeling. Only quibble? Overuse of the Baroque on the soundtrack but there's also Bowie, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney & Wings, and lots of hip-hop! (viewed 4/17)

A forty something couple is befriended by a younger couple and it changes their lives. That is the set up but the question is, are lying and scheming justified? It is a good natured movie that moves along with a well written script. The performances are good, but nobody breaks a sweat. It was nice to see Charles Grodin working. There's an effective classical feeling score. The question of how much of a documentary can be manipulated and still maintain a degree of truth is preached about but never answered. There was a lack of consequences as the schemer got what he wanted, not what he deserved. As Baumbach's works tend to be personal, perhaps he should consider going into politics. It's a small movie in limited release. Don't worry if you don't get to the theater for this one, it will play well on a format in the comfort of your home.