Review of While We're Young (2015) by Alexandra R — 05 Apr 2015

Noah Baumbach becomes Woody Allen more and more with each passing film. Woody Allen that is without Allen's presence, and therefore markedly less self-involved. What's striking for me in the comparison is that following the equally illuminating "Frances Ha" with this effort Baumbach shows us a versatility in perspective that Allen was not to deliver until much later in his career. With "Frances Ha" Baumbach brought us a character disconnected from her life and her identity following the end of the prescribed years of her youth. There the struggle was around rolling ones sleeves up and accomplishing something when nobody is telling you what to do. With this latest film Baumbach jumps forward 20 years and examines the pressures and insecurities of 40-somethings who are beginning to wonder if they'll surpass what they've already achieved.

"While We're Young" tells the story of slightly over the hill couple Josh and Cornelia (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts), discovering young and exciting couple Jamie and Darby (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried). The discovery sparks within them the desire to grasp hold of their remaining youth, fuelled further by the rejection of the parent club that their own peers have formed. As the couples become closer it becomes apparent that Jamie may have ulterior motives for seeking his new friends out.

The cast are capable without any one standing out for special attention. I look forward to seeing Adam Driver step out of his comfort zone portraying the aloof jerk in the near future.

It's possible that "While We're Young" is too ambitious for its own good. Simultaneously tackling generation gaps, mid-life crises and the effects of technology and media on millennials (to name but a few), meaty enough subjects in their own rights, it can be a little hard to understand what Baumbach wants us to take away at times. However his core story holds up pretty well, managing to avoid becoming overly dramatised when the opportunity arises and instead maintaining a real enough feel.