SHORTCOMINGS – Review by T.J. Callahan

Shortcomings: Reaching new relationship heights

For a romantic comedy, Shortcomings lacked any deep romance and was low on laughs, but it does raise some interesting questions and the characters are highly believable…even if some aren’t that likable.

Ben is an art-house movie theater manager and struggling filmmaker. His longtime relationship with Miko is on autopilot. He’s more interested in unattainable blonde women, watching classic films on DVD and hanging out with his best friend, Alice, a lesbian grad student and serial dater. When Miko tells Ben she’s taking an internship at the Asian-American Film Institute in New York City, the meaning and trajectory of Ben’s life comes into question.

Shortcomings is based on a graphic novel by Adrian Tomine and is helmed by Fresh Off the Boat’s Randall Park. This is the sitcom stars’ first foray into directing and he keeps the storyline floating and cruises into the dock at a taut one and a half hours. That seems hard to do these days.

What is refreshing about Shortcomings is it focuses on real life struggles of not just Asian-Americans, but all nationalities of people who just want to succeed and be loved. The Crazy Rich Asians personas that Ben calls garish and dislikes so much are shattered in this film.

Ben, played by Justin H. Min, is angry, afraid of change and talks too much no matter how hard Alice (Sherry Cola) tries to help him see the light. Cola, who stole the show in Joy Ride, rises to the top in Shortcomings as well. This film would better be described as a relationship movie with a few chuckles and the requisite romantic film cliches. Characters sometimes come up short, but it has nothing to do with their height.

Shortcomings gets a 6 out of 10.