BEN Stiller’s latest offering is an awkward, dark journey into adulthood - something which I probably should have told the friend I dragged along with me, as she was expecting a goofy American comedy in the style of Zoolander or Dodgeball.
Greenberg is not the kind of lighthearted muck-about we have come to expect from Stiller.
His character, Roger Greenberg, is an ex-psychiatric patient with a curious ability to build dog kennels and syphon water out of an overflowing swimming pool using a garden hose.
He is the quintessential broken man, emotionally, financially - he doesn’t even drive, which is evidently a cardinal sin in America.
The movie goes from funny to shocking to sad, and frequently pushes the boundaries of its 15-certificate, with some quite graphic scenes that are now permanently burned onto my retinas.
Similar to The Royal Tenenbaums in its bleak yet comic outlook, there are laughs to be had, and Stiller is very obviously ‘doing a Jim Carey’ in showing his more serious actor side to great effect.
This probably won’t be one of Ben Stiller’s most memorable or popular movies - certainly not if you’re expecting a rehash of old favourites or cameo appearances from his famous friends - but as far as awkward indie comedies go, it does what it says on the tin.
A cutesy performance by co-star Greta Gerwig means that the film will probably do well at award ceremonies, and Stiller’s genuine acting ability is clear - he is at his most likeable when he’s simply alone, talking to an answering machine.