"Greenberg" Movie Trailer Review

11/25/2009 Posted by Admin

By our guest blogger, Rob Stammitti

Noah Baumbach, responsible for the brilliant "The Squid and the Whale" and "Margot at the Wedding," has another film on the way in the similar vein of drama and dark comedy. The film is "Greenberg," starring Ben Stiller in what seems to be one of the more low-key roles reminiscent of "The Royal Tenenbaums" I really appreciate him for.

The story, written by Baumbach and his wife, "Margot" co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh (who also has a role in this), is about a man who appears to be having a mid-life crisis, except instead of traveling, doing wild things or buying a fancy car, he does...well, nothing. He writes angry letters to Starbucks, sits around at home, goes to casual parties here and there, but generally just does absolutely nothing.

Based on the trailer, this is definitely Stiller at his most subtle and refined. It somewhat reminded me of Jack Black in "Margot," still retaining everything likable about his general acting persona but keeping it grounded. Leigh also stars, along with the fantastic Rhys Ifans, who appears to be playing Stiller's friend and confidante.

Unlike many for comedies lately, the trailer actually made me laugh quite frequently, and not even with anything bombastic or excessive, just genuinely funny and well-delivered dialogue that I've loved Baumbach for in previous films (he also co-wrote Wes Anderson's immensely underrated "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou").

Thematically, it seems to be a natural progression for the director. He started with college angst in his debut feature "Kicking & Screaming" (not the Will Ferrell one), moved into parenthood and adulthood intellectualism in "Squid and the Whale," covered marriage and familial relationships between adults in "Margot," and is now moving into middle-aged territory.

With such a fine cast and a fantastic writer and director at the helm, "Greenberg" is surely something to look forward to. It's aimed for a limited March 12, 2010 release.

The trailer for "Greenberg" is below. Thoughts?