C’mon C’mon

Child rearing seems more challenging than ever these days, which C’mon C’mon acutely observes without turning preachy or sentimental.

Bolstered by sumptuous black-and-white cinematography, the intriguing family dynamics resonate with authenticity in this compassionate and quietly perceptive character study about grief, reconciliation, intergenerational communication, and starting over.

The first post-Oscar role for Joaquin Phoenix finds him playing Johnny, a radio journalist whose latest project involves interviewing children of various ages and backgrounds about the future.

While he immerses himself in his work, Johnny clearly has issues with trust and intimacy that have rendered him an eccentric loner. He recently went through a breakup, and harbors residual hostility toward his sister, Viv (Gaby Hoffmann), after the recent death of their mother.

Johnny visits Viv in Los Angeles in an effort to heal old wounds. Viv has relationship issues of her own with her estranged husband (Scoot McNairy), leaving her as the primary caretaker for 9-year-old Jesse (Woody Norman).

When Viv must leave town, Johnny volunteers to oversee his precocious nephew, who comes off initially as an ungrateful brat intent on causing chaos with his outbursts. Eventually they bond over Jesse’s fascination with Johnny’s work, leading the youngster to tag along on assignment in New York despite considerable uncertainty over the ramifications for all involved.

Residual unease simmers beneath the quirky surface of the multilayered screenplay by director Mike Mills (Beginners), which tends to bog down in moments of deep introspection that aren’t as insightful as intended.

Phoenix’s understated portrayal brings nuance and grounding to a man who spends every day asking personal questions to complete strangers but struggles when the microphone is turned on himself. He establishes a tender chemistry with British native Norman, offering an expressive performance as a rambunctious kid who’s not an easy target for sympathy yet forced to navigate a fractured family and an uncertain future.

C’mon C’mon is a richly textured examination of the challenges of contemporary parenting — such as listening, nurturing, finding common ground, and showing unconditional love even when it’s not easy or convenient.

Above all, as Johnny discovers through his work, the film on a broader scale strikes a cautiously optimistic tone about our collective future in the hands of the next generation.

Rated R, 108 minutes.