An Overly-Familiar tale

Rating: 2/10 (8 October 2019)

I normally love Noah Baumbach's films -- he has a way of skewering pretences and portraying very real people in the midst of an emotional crisis. When I booked for this at the 2019 London Film Festival, it sounded like it would be Baumbach's "Annie Hall", and it certainly starts well, with a sparky script and a great cast, but it soon grinds to a plod due to the complete lack of chemistry between the leads and therefore absolutely no feeling, no matter how much they talk about it, that they have any kind of shared history (even their son, used - natch - as a bargaining chip throughout the messy divorce, has about as much appeal as a potato). During one particularly lengthy argument, Scarlett Johannson glows with incandescent rawness, but can't strike a spark from her co-star, the dead-eyed and apparently sedated Adam Driver. I'll admit, his appeal escapes me, but he sure can sing -- he inexplicably gets to sing an entire number from "Company" at a piano bar, and pulls it off admirably well. But this film is overlong, over shouty and brings absolutely nothing new to the table. I think I'll watch "Annie Hall" again, thanks.