‘Shortcomings’ Review – A Hilarious & Rewarding Embrace Of Flawed Characters

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Flashback to 2018 when Crazy Rich Asians “surprised” the industry by becoming both a critical and box office smash. The film was the first sign of significant Asian representation on screen from major Hollywood studios in decades. The hashtag “#GoldOpen” spread like wildfire to encourage the Asian American community to support the film at the box office to show that making films with Asian representation could be financially lucrative in addition to being socially responsible. While most feel like the movie did deserve its success, supporting this movie became something of greater importance to many communities.

If you were to ask Ben (Justin H. Min, After Yang), he would very bluntly tell you that is a bunch of crap. Following an amusing and impressive opening in-movie facsimile of Crazy Rich Asians (complete with cameo appearances from an alum of that film and a recent Oscar nominee), Ben does just that to his more genial girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki, Wrecked). Sure, advancements for Asian Americans in popular culture are desperately needed, but at the cost of a “garish mainstream hit?” What does representation matter if audiences are not seeing real characters? That is, a human being with flaws. 

This opening tirade is not only our introduction to the prickly main character, but it is a sly way for actor-turned-director Randall Park (Fresh Off The Boat) to acclimate the audience to his feature directorial debut, Shortcomings. Park is here to tell a story with real characters, and Ben is a real character with real flaws – many, many flaws. Ben runs a slowly declining local movie theater which just so happens to parallel the state of his deteriorating relationship. In addition to good old-fashioned emotional neglect, Ben finds himself mistaking his cynicism and acerbic barbs for normal relationship banter, and everyone but him can see the writing on the wall. When Miko accepts a promising three-month internship across the country in New York City, Ben is left behind to figure out who he is when he is alone and (ostensibly) single. 

In truth, Ben is not completely alone; Joy Ride breakout star Sherry Cola steals the show as Ben’s queer best friend, Alice. While Alice may have her own hang-ups with relationships, she is a much more emotionally evolved and intuitive individual, and she is the one person in Ben’s life who calls him out for his mistakes, even if he rarely takes the note seriously. In a movie in which the lead character is always teetering the line of complete unlikability, it is this foundational relationship which gives you glimpses of who Ben could be without all the pain of his failures weighing down on him. If that sounds gloomy, the reality could not be further from the truth. The familial banter between these two is absolutely hilarious while feeling authentic to the characters. 

Early in the film, Ben gets called out for his obsession with white women by his Asian girlfriend in an equal parts heartbreaking and uncomfortably funny subversion of a traditional confrontation that fills in some more puzzle pieces to this character. Park makes the wise decision to not overstuff this spry and consistently engaging narrative with unnecessary spoken exposition which otherwise comes into focus over this slice of time. During Ben’s period of newfound freedom, he explores this particular interest with two women who make the most out of their short time in his story. Autumn (Tavi Gevinson, Gossip Girl) is a sweet-natured new employee at the movie theater whose unique interests push Ben to consider just what he is willing to pretend to like to be near such a fair complexion. Anyone who has ever had a friend in the arts will feel the experience of supporting their less-than-conventional work deep in their bones. 

It is Sasha (Debby Ryan, Insatiable), the “fence sitter” bisexual, who proves to be one of the keys to accessing the deeper layers of Ben, even if what we find is not always pretty. The movie tells you from the beginning that this is not a romantic comedy; this character is too jaded to even know what real love can be. When Ben speaks, he speaks with a sharp tongue that feels righteous to him in the moment. Ben is a character that has a laundry list of opinions about what is wrong with everyone else, but we all know those that criticize others reveal what they themselves lack. 

Shortcomings does not let Ben off the hook when it comes to recognizing his flaws and setting up a potential path to redemption. Despite his best efforts, you do still like Ben at the end of the day, mostly thanks to the inherently charming nature of Justin H. Min. Yet, this is not Crazy Rich Asians, and one should not expect fireworks with a cut to credits. Real characters do not get to wrap things up so neatly. Randall Park embraces the messiness of humanity and the characters that populate the world he has created. There is often bitterness in the sweetness. The film can be abrasive, but it is also terrifically funny. This tricky tonal balance is executed admirably thanks to the honesty brought to these characters. Shortcomings might not make a mainstream audience swoon, but arthouse patrons will embrace it with open arms. Ben would not have it any other way. 

Shortcomings is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fLypuUnAfw]