YNOT at the Movies

We sometimes refer to children as our future. But what do children think about their own future? That's the question asked to school children by a radio journalist named Johnny traveling across the country. He is the soft-spoken protagonist in write-director Mike Mills's marvelous new film "C'mon C'mon" (USA 2021 | 108 min.). While the youngsters give some insightful answers to the question, the film's real focal point is to portray the tender relationship Johnny develops with his 9-year-old nephew. It provokes us to reflect on how we adults communicate with children and demand us to pay attention to their future. There is no doubt that this film is a front-runner in the upcoming award season.

Even though Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) is a good listener and superb at work as a radio journalist, his personal life isn't going great as a middle-aged man. He has not talked to his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) since their mom died. On the one-year anniversary of their mom's death, he finally calls Viv from his Detroit hotel room and finds out that Viv is in a chaotic situation. Viv has to go to Oakland to take care of her bipolar ex-husband Paul (Scoot McNairy) and she needs somebody to babysit her 9-year-old son Jesse (Woody Norman). Without hesitation, Johnny volunteers to come down to Los Angeles to take care of Jesse for a few days.

Knowing nothing about parenting, Johnny underestimated what he is getting himself into. The inquisitive and observant Jesse begins to test his uncle's parenting skills. But with genuine love and affection, they soon grow closer to each other. In a little over a week, they build a solid bond when Johnny takes Jesse to New York City and New Orleans to continue his work interviewing youngsters.

The dynamic and delicate exchanges between Johnny and Jesse are irresistibly charming and fascinating. Joaquin Phoenix perfectly plays a gentle soul who wants to dedicate his work to be the voice of young people yet struggles to find the right tone to communicate with his young nephew. Woody Norman is exceptionally natural and mesmerizing in conveying the young Jesse's lovely spirit and creative mind. The writer-director Mike Mills makes a lyrical sonata with the duo, hitting on perfect notes on every heartwarming beat.

That doesn't mean that their time together is always happy and delightful. There is yelling and screaming, as well as frustration and disappointment. But the film wants to make a point that it's perfectly okay and normal to be that way. It's a lesson that Johnny has a chance to teach Jesse, and a lesson he gets to learn for himself. When it comes to relationships, the most important thing is to connect with each other and try to listen to and understand each other while going through the ups and downs together. It's a ritual that might take a life-time to accustom, and the film profoundly delivers it with a big heart.

"C'mon C'mon" opens on Friday, November 19, 2021.