 opens with what is likely a spoof){kind=link}
Shortcomings (directed by Randall Park and written by Adrian Tomine based on their novel of the same title) opens with what is likely a spoof on Crazy Rich Asians (with some Pretty Woman flavouring) starring the recently announced Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu and Ronny Chieng. This clip serves as a primer for the basic contention within the movie. What is art and authenticity, and how do people form connections with each other/things (like media)? And that’s how we meet Ben (played by Justin H. Min), complaining about the film to his long-term girlfriend Miko (played by Ally Maki). She’s working at a San Francisco Asian Film Festival and is thrilled they managed to get this big Asian-led film in their festival, and at the prospect of what it could mean for the future of Asian filmmaking. While Ben doesn’t like the film, because of how perfect (unflawed the characters) are, and he doesn’t believe anyone actually likes it. She disagrees with his assessment, arguing that people can just enjoy things.
There is a trend to dismiss projects that spark joy, or “popcorn” films, as less worthy, but the thing is, most movies go through very similar production processes and work. People work just as hard on films that make top 10 lists as the ones people write off as box office failures. I recently got to hear the favourite movies of a bunch of gen z kids and why, and many of them would be of the type Ben would disapprove. But, again, they sparked a connection with them. That is part of the journey Ben goes on in the film. Realizing the need for real connection. Though something Ben wants in his cinema is flawed characters, and by the headings alone, these characters are flawed (the film is broken up into multiple sections, likely subtitled based on the titles from the novel it’s adapted from).
Sherry Cola plays Alice, Ben’s lesbian best friend, who has insane game. The scene at the first diner where she effortlessly flirted with the server is the kind of stuff that will leave most queer ladies in awe. The film does a great job of cementing their friendship, how long it’s been going on, and how both of them are kind of a little stunted in adulting. Alice is introduced as a serial womanizer, and Ben, despite being in a long-term relationship (6 years), both Alice and Miko know he is very attracted to white women. In fact, it doesn’t take long after Miko leaves for Ben to attempt to pursue something with Autumn (played by Tavi Gevinson) and then Sasha (played by Debby Ryan).
Now as we’ve already established, all the main characters are flawed. Ben and Alice particularly, and one of the ways is they say, and sometimes do, things that are problematic. It’s all part of the journey, and while Ben gets called out for a lot of the stuff he says/does, there is one thing Alice says and passes on the Ben that only he gets called out on that I wish she also got called out on. Alice refers to Sasha, who is bi or pansexual, as a fence-sitter and a trendy dabbler. Too often LGBTQ+ characters’ identities have been dismissed as not real, so I would’ve loved to have that also be part of her growth. However, the film itself doesn’t dismiss Sasha’s sexuality, so it is worlds better than other media that would’ve let the dismal be the last word.
Meredith (played by Sonoya Mizuno) was a good pairing for Alice and an excellent foil for Ben as he had to face the reality of his and Miko’s relationship or lack of one. And his part in that.
Despite, or perhaps because of all the flaws, the film ends in a hopeful place.
Shortcomings was Randall Park’s directorial debut, it premiered at Sundance in the US Dramatic Competition section.
© 2020-2023. UniversalCinema Mag.