C’mon C’mon (2021) Movie Review

Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) is a journalist, traveling the country asking kids questions about the future and how they view the world. Meanwhile Johnny’s sister, Viv (Gaby Hoffman) is having a hard time being a mother to her son, Jesse (Woody Norman). She is dealing with her husband Paul (Scoot McNairy) who is suffering from mental illness and is on the cusp of some sort of breakdown. Although Viv and Johnny don’t talk much anymore, Johnny is roped into watching Jesse for a while.

Although he interviews kids often for his job, it’s clear he doesn’t know much about spending prolonged periods of time with them. Jesse is a unique kid, who sometimes inexplicably pretends he’s an orphan before bedtime. As Johnny spends more time with Jesse, his eyes begin to open to the wonders of childhood and the ways in which he has fallen short as an adult. The rift between Viv and Johnny stems from a variety of things mainly differences in how to care for their mother who was suffering from dementia. As with most adult rifts, this could have been easily rectified if both parties had been able to speak honestly and listen to understand each other. Something Johnny learns after spending time with Jesse.

The way Jesse views the world is both simple and complex and writer and director Mike Mills does an excellent job of portraying Jesse as a quirky young boy who is trying to make sense of the world. Woody Norman brings a sensitivity to the screen that helps drive the story and the themes home. Phoenix gives one of the more nuanced performances of his career as he navigates what it means to be a parent. Several conversations he has with Viv about Jesse will undoubtedly resonate with people who have children of their own. When Johnny mentions that Jesse talks incessantly Viv agrees exasperatedly. Mills also doesn’t shy away from how difficult it is to be a parent and to be patient with your child. At one point Viv mentions that sometimes she really can’t stand to be around Jesse because he’s too much and she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Sentiments I’m sure most parents will be able to identify with.

C’mon C’mon is shot in black and white, which lends a certain timeless charm to the story. The duo hit New York City, Los Angeles, and New Orleans so you get to see a variety of scenery all magnificently caught in black and white. C’mon C’mon doesn’t have any explosions or huge events that drive the plot. It’s a quiet movie that ponders what it means to be a human and how we navigate the different types of relationships we have in life. It was one of my surprise favorites of the year as Mills is able to craft a touching and poignant story about an uncle and his nephew as they both navigate the world and their relationship with each other. The world can be a lonely place, but if we do the work, we can build lasting connections with the people in our lives. C’mon C’mon is an excellent exploration of what happens when we do just that. 

You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like thought provoking stories
2. You often ponder what the meaning of life is
3. You want to see a touching story about an uncle and his nephew