Review of Greenberg (2010) by Dominic S — 11 Dec 2013

2.5/4.0.

"Greenberg" is a tough movie to love but it is easy to like and worth watching for Ben Stiller's performance as the title character, a self-indulged loser who was just released from a mental institution and spends time at his rich brother's LA house while he is on a family vacation. This is a very unique role for Stiller and I must say that it is possibly the best performance of his career as this unlikeable-on-the-surface character.

The movie centers on his relationship with his brother's young assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig) who serves as his sort of babysitter - she drives for him (he just doesn't drive), buys him groceries and takes care of his brother's dog (who is in a way a key character in the film). Cast also includes Rhys Ifans as Stiller's good friend and a former member of their would-have-been musical band and Jennifer Jason Leigh as an ex-girlfriend. Leigh is credited for story with then-husband director-screenwriter Noah Baumbach who fails again to do something noteworthy since 2005's "The Squid and the Whale".