Tropic Sprockets / Shortcomings

By Ian Brockway

The actor Randall Park (TV’s Fresh Off the Boat) has a directorial debut in “Shortcomings” based on a graphic novel by Adrian Tomine. The film is engrossing, pensive and affecting, bolstered with two near perfect performances by Justin H. Min and Sherry Cola. [Check Tropiccinema.com for showtimes and trailer.]

In tone, the film is a fine companion to “You Hurt My Feelings” by Nicole Holofcener.

Californian Ben (Justin H. Min) is a withdrawn manager of an art house cinema who lives with his ambitious girlfriend Miko (Ally Maki). The two argue about the worth of mainstream films.

One day, Miko finds porn on the laptop but is most upset because the scenes feature all women with blonde hair and blue eyes. Miko feels understandably slighted and lessened.

Miko forgives the argument, then tells Ben she is moving to New York for three months because of an internship. Ben is heartsick, but resolves to stay supportive. He spends time with his sarcastic friend Alice (Sherry Cola). Alice tells him to get out more. Ben feels attracted to the new box office person at the theater, but she has a myriad of phobias.

Alice takes Ben to the party where he meets Sasha (Debby Ryan) a glib rule breaker. Ben is smitten, then thrown for a loop when Sasha announces she is restarting a romance with her girlfriend.

Alice announces the wish to try New York and Ben tags along driven by restless what-ifs concerning Miko.

This is a fine relationship film that is full of richness and heart. Min is excellent, as is Cola. Timothy Simons delivers a scene stealing performance as a righteous and self-centered boyfriend.

One really feels for Ben who is not unkind, yet he is burdened by too much from family, culture, and expectations. This is authentic filmmaking, and it is serious filmmaking that underscores the young Asian experience in America with its assumptions and stereotypes. The emotion of love is a character in this film with all of its ecstasy, its pushes and pulls. Refreshingly, this film highlights the caprice of romance along with the fixative of friendship and there are no resolutions.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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