"The script is very cleverly written. A mixture of wry satire, lines that are truly hilarious -- despite their serious subject matter"

Have you ever felt like you’re in limbo? Too young to settle down and have children but too old to keep up with the young and beautiful? This is a frequent problem of modern 30-40-somethings and a big theme of Noah Baumbach’s comedy, While We’re Young. Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts play Josh and Cornelia are a middle-aged couple who meet and befriend younger counterparts Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried). As many of their older friends are having babies and settling into a more responsible life, Josh and Cornelia begin to feel out of place and become increasingly close to Jamie and Darby who they see as innocent, fun-loving and free. However, the more they become involved in the lives (and work) of the young couple, the more they start to realise that maybe they are not as innocent and free as they seem. This may all have been learned far too late as their careers and relationship have been turned upside down.
Sure, this is a Ben Stiller film but refreshingly it is not all about him. Thanks to strong performances from all lead actors, this is very much an ensemble piece. Adam Driver is especially good as an aspiring filmmaker who seems at first like an innocent puppy dog who is heart-warmingly excited to meet one of his heroes, yet as the film goes on, you begin to see his inner narcissist creep out. His portrayal is subtle yet sharp and you’re never quite sure whether you like the guy or not. The script is very cleverly written. A mixture of wry satire, lines that are truly hilarious -- despite their serious subject matter -- and flat out silliness (a particularly funny scene involving some questionable drugs and emotional bonding will have you rolling with laughter and cringing at the same time); this really does have something for every sense of humour. My only gripe is that it goes on a little too long: the story could’ve been satisfyingly resolved before its final scene. By the end, I started to lose interest and falls a little flat. Ultimately, this is a fun film. It’s easy to watch, laugh out loud funny at points, and focuses on a subject matter that rings true to so many of us nowadays. Do I belong? Am I where I’m supposed to be? Unlike some of Baumbach’s earlier work, I believe that this will appeal to a mass audience and, dare I say, he may be slipping into the mainstream!