Greenberg Review

Reviewed by David Savage

Starring: Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Director: Noah Baumbach
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 110 minutes
Format: DVD
Release Date: 13 April 2015

Greenberg is a comedy drama starring Ben Stiller but not more subdued than Stiller’s usual comedy films.

Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) in in his forty’s and is recovering from a nervous breakdown and after a stay in hospital he agrees to house sit for his brother while they are on holiday for 6 weeks. His plan is to deliberately do nothing and try to start his life again. 15 years previous he was in a band and tries to reconnect with his former bandmate and friend Ivan (Rhys Ifans) and his ex-girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh).

Florence (Greta Gerwig) is his brother’s personal assistant who while they are away comes in to feed and walk the dog and help Roger if he needs anything.

Roger is finding rekindling old friendships and romances very hard and is drawn towards Florence and despite his best attempts not to be together they can’t seem to stay away from each other.

Overall, Greenberg is a very troubled man and Greta seems to have own issues but they get drawn together and for them it works. There is very little comedy in the film and I find it hard to watch Stiller playing a serious role of a lost soul who suddenly realises he is middle aged.

Don’t expect a laugh out loud comedy in the usual Ben Stiller format. This is a well written story about sadness and finding love despite your best efforts not to.

Both Stiller and Gerwig play the parts of two sad lost souls extremely well. Once you realise it isn’t going to be a straight up comedy, more of a darker comedy, and take it as a drama it is quite an interesting film and story that the two main characters portray very well.

Rating: 4/5

RRP: £14.99

Available to pre-order/buy from Amazon here.