C’mon, C’mon  ★★★½

JOAQUIN Phoenix’s latest film, C’mon, C’mon, is likely to pass many people by.

While he’s one of the best actors of his generation, he’s not a general crowd puller. The title of this film isn’t exactly a magnet either.

But this gentle comedy/drama slowly draws you in to its life-affirming messages and positive outlook at a time when many of us fear for the future.

Phoenix, in a role totally opposite to his brilliant Joker in 2019, plays Johnny, a podcast broadcaster who is doing a series of interviews with young children about their views, fears and hopes for themselves and the world.

Johnny is single, having recently gone through the end of a long-term relationship. He has a sister Viv, played by Gaby Hoffman, who he speaks to but doesn’t often see.

Viv is struggling to deal with her husband Paul’s struggles with mental illness and needs to spend dedicated time with him while he checks into a clinic.

Despite having no visible parenting skills, Johnny offers to fly to Viv’s home in LA and look after Jesse (Woody Norman) for a few days.

Compounding the situation further is Jesse’s unique character which seems to already be mirroring some of his father’s eccentricities.

The unlikely pair must bridge the generation gap to form a positive, loving and respectful relationship.

There are a couple of simple things that writer/director Mike Mills has done with the film. Firstly it is presented in simple, but crisp black and white, presumably in an attempt to strip back the attention from visuals to the words and interaction of his characters.

Secondly, and possibly less successfully, Johnny’s interviews with young people are regularly inserted into the narrative in order to emphasise that there is hope for the world with the future generation in charge.

Phoenix delivered an understated performance that is very natural and matched by Gaby Hoffman and the young Woody Norman. Scoot McNairy has a telling cameo as Paul.

It’s a nice experience to spend some time with these actors and a film-maker with a positive view on the future.