Parents' Guide to Shortcomings

A smart, movie-savvy deconstruction of the romantic comedy genre—as well as a commentary on diversity and stereotypes—this is a sharp, surprising, and most welcome achievement. The feature directing debut of Randall Park (based on a graphic novel by Adrian Tomine), Shortcomings begins with an argument over a Crazy Rich Asians-like movie (of which we see only the ending) about whether it's a banal formula movie or a groundbreaking, diverse work. Ben argues that he'd like to see more "real" characters, like himself. The characters working at the movie theater provide more movie-talk and more perspective. There's even a line about running through the city to do one last grand gesture to win back "the girl."

Shortcomings asks complex questions about representation, including about how Asian Americans view one another in various ways, especially if White people are also in the mix. The real challenge is that the movie asks us to stick by Ben, who, as Miko points out, is angry, depressed, relentlessly negative, and filled with self-hatred. But he still has depth and agency, and we can feel his highs and lows, his pain, and his realization. Shortcomings wraps up with a wow of an ending, bringing us back around to the fictional Crazy Rich Asians-esque movie, but this time seen from a different angle. This is a movie that understands its formula and uses it to create something new and bracing.