Review: Shortcomings

Directed by: Randall Park

Written by: Adrian Tomine

Starring: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Tavi Gevinson, Debby Ryan, Sonoya Mizuno

Rating: [3.5/5]

Navigating a story with an unlikeable protagonist puts itself in a rough spot, seeing as these individuals typically serve as our vessel through the story. Spending too much time with them tends to make the viewing experience quite grating because the audience continues to fester a hate for them. Typically, these type of films drain out any enjoyment I can muster from them, but Shortcomings captures something in the way it presents its character where you hate him so much it becomes fun to watch everything fall apart for him. 

As an aspiring filmmaker working at a movie theater, Ben (Justin H. Min) carries this unhappiness in his life. He shows a lack of interest in the thoughts and interests of his girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki). When she takes up an internship in New York City, prompting a trial separation for them both, he begins to act out all of these things he wishes he could do but now has the freedom to do so. 

Going through this narrative following Ben around makes for quite the infuriating experience, seeing just how awful that man can be towards others. Always poking and prodding trying to find the flaws in others without having even a smidgen of introspection to notice the blatant hypocrisy in everything he says and does. He brings forth this arrogant persona of someone who has accomplished so little in life yet feels like all of his supports actually operate as weights keeping him down when nothing but the opposite carries the truth. Part of what makes watching this film enjoyable comes from the blatant presentation of Ben’s selfishness and the way he properly receives his comeuppance. 

The various relationships Ben has with individuals in his life carry out much of what this film seeks to evoke. This primarily occurs with his girlfriend Miko and his other friend Alice (Sherry Cola). While Alice tries to be nice and sympathize with Ben as a friend would do, Miko has had more than enough from him. She exemplifies a woman who has had enough with his defeatist and self-serving attitude that truly gets the film going when she confronts him about the type of pornography he watches, as it mostly centers white women. He denies this attraction but based on how he acts around literally any white woman in the story shows the man has plenty of honesty to share about others but none for himself. Therefore, we see everything transpire through the eyes of Ben but feel for pretty much everyone else around him as they have to deal with his nonsense. 

Serving as Randall Park’s directorial debut, seeing an actor known for his comedy chops step in and take a project like this makes for quite the interesting decision. While this screenplay does much of the heavy lifting, Park really knows how to present Ben in a way that makes for conflicting viewing. He creates these moments where we get reminded of the humanity of this character and no matter how unlikeable he may be, the man is still mortal. Park maintains control of this narrative and the way he assists in visually displaying Ben throughout this story truly hits home the major elements of this film, and I’m excited what other projects he has an interest in taking on. 

Never have I ever wanted to punch a protagonist in a story as a much as I have Ben in Shortcomings. Following this horribly arrogant, insecure, and plainly mean man makes for many moments where you could roll your eyes, but at the very least this narrative acknowledges his general awfulness and repeatedly calls him out for it. I must give credit to Justin H. Min for taking this character and really selling the elements that make him absolutely deplorable for 90% of the film but leaves just enough of a sliver of humanity for that 10% where Ben shows the vulnerability of someone the audience could truly care for. Sherry Cola does so a great job as well as the friend, Alice, in the way she serves as the support for Ben but also someone who tries to hold him accountable herself. Everything here culminates in something worth seeking out.