Shortcomings (film)
Shortcomings is a 2023 American comedy-drama film directed by Randall Park, in his feature directorial debut, and written by Adrian Tomine, based on his 2007 graphic novel of the same name. The film stars Justin H. Min, Ally Maki, Sherry Cola, Tavi Gevinson, Debby Ryan, Jacob Batalon, and Sonoya Mizuno.
The film follows Ben Tanaka (Justin H. Min), a cynical and judgmental cinephile who manages an arthouse movie theater in Berkeley, California. Ben is in a long-term relationship with Miko (Ally Maki), a Japanese-American woman who is moving to New York City for an internship. While she is away, Ben navigates his anxieties about commitment, race, and identity, and explores his own flawed perspectives on relationships, often relying on the support and perspective of his best friend, Alice (Sherry Cola), a queer, politically active graduate student. The narrative explores themes of Asian-American identity, relationships, and the complexities of modern love. The film utilizes dry humor and satire to address the protagonist's self-absorbed nature and the challenges he faces in understanding himself and his relationships with others.