When Crazy Rich Asians first came out, I was called a "bad Asian" for not going out to watch the film on opening weekend. While I've appreciated the film for the boost it's given to Asian-American stories in Hollywood, that movie just wasn't my bag. Randall Park uses the opening moments of his directorial debut, Shortcomings, to give a voice to those of us who quietly kept our thoughts about that movie to ourselves — a common theme throughout the film.
Based on a comic book of the same name by Adrian Tomine (who also wrote the film's screenplay), Shortcomings takes aim at grand gestures of representation and diversity in media, as well as the internal struggle many people across any diasporic community experience. These themes are wrapped up within a non-rom-com, with Ben (Justin H. Min) as an insufferable and obnoxious leading man whose girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), goes to New York City for a month-long internship, which she uses as an opportunity to instigate a break in their relationship.
As Ben grapples with his sudden singledom, his insufferableness reaches new heights, with even his best friend Alice (Sherry Cola) struggling to keep up with him. Part of what makes him so unlikeable is Ben's desire to say the quiet thoughts out loud. For instance, white men dating Asian women is an act of exoticism and fetishization, but Asian men dating white women? "Good for him, he must be a great guy."
It's to Min's credit that he's able to take such an intentionally unpleasant character and still find moments of charm and humour. Through Min's performance, Ben goes beyond being simply cantankerous. There's a complex degree of self-loathing that is difficult to portray on screen, but he does so effortlessly. Between Ben, his role in After Yang as a cerebral robot, and as the insecure ex-boyfriend in BEEF, Min has proven himself to be a dynamic actor worth keeping an eye on.
Park, known for being an all-around nice guy with a sharp sense of humour, has a small cameo in the film, but otherwise stays behind the camera. There are traces of Park's brand of comedy throughout, especially in Timothy Simon's scenes as Miko's new beau Leon, where the phrase "Rice King" is delightfully resurrected.
At times, Park's direction can fall too far down the side of twee (namely those bubblegum title cards spliced throughout), and the pacing starts to come apart as the film races towards its conclusion, but there's a restraint and simplicity to Shortcomings that's due in large part to the actor-turned-director. Most of my qualms with the film are with the script, which, while funny and pointed, feels too clean and manufactured; there is an amusing irony of a story disparaging the grandiose nature of representation while being in itself grandiosely aggrandizing.
At first glance, it may seem like Shortcomings is being antagonistic for the sake of it, but the film is a testament to the flawed and messy reality of figuring out one's life. There's a lot to like about Park's first outing in the director's seat, and while it may not reach the heights of other anti-rom-coms, it certainly doesn't fall short.
(Sony Pictures Classic)Based on a comic book of the same name by Adrian Tomine (who also wrote the film's screenplay), Shortcomings takes aim at grand gestures of representation and diversity in media, as well as the internal struggle many people across any diasporic community experience. These themes are wrapped up within a non-rom-com, with Ben (Justin H. Min) as an insufferable and obnoxious leading man whose girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), goes to New York City for a month-long internship, which she uses as an opportunity to instigate a break in their relationship.
As Ben grapples with his sudden singledom, his insufferableness reaches new heights, with even his best friend Alice (Sherry Cola) struggling to keep up with him. Part of what makes him so unlikeable is Ben's desire to say the quiet thoughts out loud. For instance, white men dating Asian women is an act of exoticism and fetishization, but Asian men dating white women? "Good for him, he must be a great guy."
It's to Min's credit that he's able to take such an intentionally unpleasant character and still find moments of charm and humour. Through Min's performance, Ben goes beyond being simply cantankerous. There's a complex degree of self-loathing that is difficult to portray on screen, but he does so effortlessly. Between Ben, his role in After Yang as a cerebral robot, and as the insecure ex-boyfriend in BEEF, Min has proven himself to be a dynamic actor worth keeping an eye on.
Park, known for being an all-around nice guy with a sharp sense of humour, has a small cameo in the film, but otherwise stays behind the camera. There are traces of Park's brand of comedy throughout, especially in Timothy Simon's scenes as Miko's new beau Leon, where the phrase "Rice King" is delightfully resurrected.
At times, Park's direction can fall too far down the side of twee (namely those bubblegum title cards spliced throughout), and the pacing starts to come apart as the film races towards its conclusion, but there's a restraint and simplicity to Shortcomings that's due in large part to the actor-turned-director. Most of my qualms with the film are with the script, which, while funny and pointed, feels too clean and manufactured; there is an amusing irony of a story disparaging the grandiose nature of representation while being in itself grandiosely aggrandizing.
At first glance, it may seem like Shortcomings is being antagonistic for the sake of it, but the film is a testament to the flawed and messy reality of figuring out one's life. There's a lot to like about Park's first outing in the director's seat, and while it may not reach the heights of other anti-rom-coms, it certainly doesn't fall short.
