“I’m trying to do nothing for a while,” Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) tells his ex-girlfriend Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh) at an L.A. party. Greenberg does not have to try very hard. But Noah Baumbach’s character–driven film about an inactive and neurotic guy is both compelling and funny. Its strengths are the pair of strong lead performances and Baumbach’s subtle and witty script.

Roger Greenberg (Stiller) was once in a band and on the verge of a record deal, but is now a carpenter in New York. After a stint in a mental institution, he goes to L.A. to house sit and dog sit for his vacationing brother. Greenberg spends most of his time trying to build a doghouse, writing complaint letters to corporations and trying to reconnect with friend and ex-band mate Ivan (Rhys Ifans).  But he soon finds himself depending on his brother’s personal assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig) for rides, dog care and companionship. Can his self involvement and her low self esteem be the basis for a successful romance?

Ben Stiller reins in his usual wackiness and gives a restrained and serious performance as Greenberg. Stiller looks gaunt and haggard and he rarely smiles. When Ivan commiserates with Greenberg, stating that youth is wasted on the young, Greenberg says, “I’d go further. I’d say life is wasted on people.” Stiller delivers the line without a hint of irony. His eyes dart around rooms nervously, as if Greenberg has trouble focusing on personal interactions. Greenberg’s initial seduction of Florence is painfully awkward.  When he manipulates Florence into driving him home, I cringed but also felt sorry for him. Stiller’s Greenberg is sad and doesn’t enjoy his selfishness.

Greta Gerwig gives an inspired and moving performance as the insecure Florence. She is lovely, vulnerable and sweet and makes the character easy to like. People use her, but she is so nice that she wants to see the best in people. When Florence tells Greenberg that she is impressed that he is willing to do nothing, Gerwig says it with complete sincerity and admiration.  Her response to Greenberg’s clumsy romantic advances is, “I’m wearing kind of an ugly bra.” Gerwig is natural and believable in every scene and I never tired of her or Florence.

Baumbach directs his 107 minute film at a leisurely pace, which emphasizes Greenberg’s inertia. Baumbach’s screenplay (based on a story by Baumbach and wife Jennifer Jason Leigh) shows a man who seems to have no goals and no close relationships. Much of the film’s humor comes from discomfort and pain. Greenberg’s behavior is so boorish that I laughed and squirmed with embarrassment for him. At times he is difficult to like, but I sympathized with his sadness and loneliness. In one my favorite scenes in the film, Greenberg shares a meal with Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh).  He remembers every detail of their relationship, even though it has been over for more than 15 years.  But for Beth, their time together is a distant memory. When Greenberg suggests that they go on a date, Beth declines and frantically signals for the check. We see that Greenberg is hurt and that he is stuck in the past.

While Greenberg is not as strong a film as The Squid and the Whale, I liked it more than Margot at the Wedding. I admire the choice to write about a character some may find unlikable, but who faces familiar conflicts. Towards the end of the film, Greenberg shows a flash of self awareness in a conversation with Ivan, as Ivan tells him about the difficulty of “finally embracing the life you never planned on.”  I was moved by Greenberg’s understanding of this.  He finally understands that it takes more than doing nothing to find happiness in the life you have, even if it is a different life than the one you expected.

Greenberg.  Directed by Noah Baumbach.  Ben Stiller (Roger Greenberg) Greta Gerwig (Florence Marr), Chris Messina (Phillip Greenberg) Rhys Ifans (Ivan Schrank), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Beth) and Mark Duplass (Eric Beller ). Focus Features, 2010.

Gail sees a movie appears every Wednesday.

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