While We’re Young humorously depicts generational differences

The+comedy%2C+directed+by+Noah+Baumbach+and+starring+Ben+Stiller%2C+Naomi+Watts%2C+Adam+Driver%2C+and+Amanda+Seyfried%2C+was+recently+shown+at+the+Toronto+Film+Festival.

Fair Use Image Courtesy of the New Yorker

The comedy, directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, and Amanda Seyfried, was recently shown at the Toronto Film Festival.

Patrick Commers, Arts Blogger

If you are not excited about the Avengers: Age of Ultron opening, you might find yourself lost when looking to see a movie this summer. Noah Baumbach’s While We’re Young has been steadily building an audience since it was shown at the Toronto Film Festival. It opened in Minneapolis at the Uptown Theater a few weeks ago and the combination of good word-of-mouth and excellent reviews have prompted theaters metro-wide to offer showings.

While We’re Young brings together director Noah Baumbach and actor Ben Stiller for a second time. The two previously worked together in Greenberg, a dark comedy. Fortunately, this new collaboration also includes ultra-cool Adam Driver, and versatile actress Naomi Watts.

While We’re Young is an honest comparison of getting old and being young and what happens when the two intersect. Josh (Ben Stiller) and Cornelia (Naomi Watts) have reached their 40’s and are taking stock of their lives and their accomplishments, both personally and professionally. Their close friends are busy with young children and after several miscarriages; Josh and Cornelia tell themselves they are better off focusing on their careers. Unfortunately, their careers are not what they had once hoped. Josh, a once acclaimed documentary filmmaker has been working on his latest project for eight years with no end in sight, and Cornelia works for her father, a famous filmmaker himself who wants to help Josh succeed but whose accomplishments only further emphasizes what Josh has failed to achieve.

Enter 20-something’s Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried). They befriend Josh and Cornelia and introduce them to their hipster way of life. They live in a Brooklyn, NYC loft, ride bikes everywhere and Darby makes organic ice cream for a living. Jamie wants to be a filmmaker and is thrilled that Josh is willing to help him succeed. The two couples begin hanging out and Josh and Cornelia are reminded of the carefree days of their youth. There are funny scenes of Josh trying to dress like a hipster but getting it all wrong and Cornelia trying to keep up with Darby at a new workout dance class. It shows the differences that are so prevalent in our society today and pokes fun at the new ways of life that have been seen by members of the younger generation. When people that don’t belong to that generation, Josh and Cornelia, dip their feet into the new way of life, it makes for some awkward and funny situations.

Over time, the difference in experiences, values, and beliefs between Generation Xers, Ben and Cornelia, and the Millennials, Jamie and Darby, become pronounced. This movie is a comedy but it also makes you ponder many questions. It shows the divide that has been made by people who do not differ in age by a significant amount of years. People will question the idea behind growing up and getting old and how someone should do it, be original or be “normal.” Filmmaker Noah Baumbach, doesn’t provide easy answers but leaves it for the viewer to decide