While We´re Young

Becoming older is an issue that some people have a problem with. I am not one of them tough. In about 4 weeks i am turning 38 years old, getting closer to 40. To some this might be depressing, i see it as a blessing. Why ? Life is made to live, so i always take chances and do many different private projects that makes no bloody sense at all. You see, i always felt a passion about making no sense at all. Why does everything have to make sense, when it is more fun to just have fun ? I think a lot of people take life too seriously, when we don´t need to. One day you might fall down and never wake up, so you might as well live life instead of sitting there regretting everything. When i look at tv shows like Housevives Of New York, or something like that concept, i understand why they are there. They get paid well, and they don´t want to age. All the botox and plastic surgery, can´t change the fact that we are all meant to become older. What is more important, looking like 22 again, or just feeling good about yourself ? In my world, i rather have a positive life, doing what i love to do, and taking chances. When i went on a honeymoon to Thailand last year, i suddenly saw what some people have been talking about. Older men, with thai girlfriends, 40 years younger than them. You would think that these women would leave, because of the age difference, but i think they choose to stay when they get enough money every month. Tragic in some ways, but that´s life, we all make choices what we think is right for us. Speaking of choices, there is one actor who definetely choose a lot of different characters, i am thinking about Ben Stiller. In the early 2000, he mostly made comedies, or romantic comedies of the usual category, that we have seen so many times before. He did do the really intelligent film The Royal Tenenbaums, from director Wes Anderson, highly recommended. It would take a while Before he decided to do something different in films, with the film Greenberg. This was a film that looked like nothing he have done Before, a very odd film about different personalities, trying to deal with ordinary day life. Ben have continued to deliver different films, maybe The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty is one of his more serious films lately. Naomi Watts is known for many great performances, one of my personal favourite films is Eastern Promises with Viggo Mortensen. Of course we have to mention her excellent performance in the masterpiece Birdman. Both of them are here in the film While We´re Young, by legendary director Noah Baumbach. Is this a combination that is as good as i was hoping it would be, or is it not on the same level as Noah´s previous films ?

Josh Schrebnick ( Ben Stiller ) and Cornelia Schrebnick ( Naomi Watts ), is an middle aged couple, struggling with their relationship, to make it work. They spend time with their friends Marina ( Maria Dizzia ) and her husband Fletcher ( Adam Horovitz ). They have a baby, and like to do the usual family activities. Josh and Cornelia does not have a child, so they try to find ways to activate themselves, and still have fun. They meet a younger couple, Jamie Massey ( Adam Driver ) and his wife Darby Massey ( Amanda Seyfried ), and become very Close to them. They love to see that their relationship is filled with passion, they enjoy Life each day and have so many ways of handling relationship issues, that Josh and Cornelia did not think would work. Both Josh and Cornelia feels inspired, as they spend more time with the younger couple, going on different trips with them in town, doing things they never thought they would do. Josh is still trying to finish his documentary film, that he have been working on for years, but money is running out. Jamie knows about Josh work on documentary films, and ask him to be a part of his own documentary film. Everything is going surprisingly smooth, and feels exciting for this middle aged couple. But is this going to last, or is there a different turn waiting around the corner ?

Usually it is easy to think that this could be another Ben Stiller comedy, in the same way we are used to see him. But he have changed his perspective, and choose completely different films nowdays. While We´re Young is definetely one of his better films in recent years. With the combination of Naomi Watts, having discussions about relationships, age issues, ordinary day habits, you do get to laugh, especially when you are close to 40 years of age, like myself. When you become older, it is easy to do things in a certain way, just because it is comfortable. But is it really that important ? Does everything have to be in a certain way because you get older ? I think that as long as you are enjoying life, do what you feel like. Dance hip hop, dress in the clothes you like, listen to any music style, hang out with people all ages, as long as you feel good about life. This is some of the things that are brought up in While We´re Young, not to stop living life because you get older. No one is going to help you fix your regrets, so go on and challenge yourself. Ben Stiller is really good as the ordinary mature hard worker Josh, dreaming of finishing his documentary film. His wife Cornelia, played really good by Naomi Watts, shows that she is ready to explore more options, how to have fun with yourself and who you spend time with. The Young couple played by Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried, give you a feeling that youth feels timeless, at the moment. Everything seems possible, as long as you have a passion for something. Director Noah Baumbach, have directed some really good films in the past, maybe you have seen The Squid And The Whale, or perhaps Frances Ha ? He have directed a film with Ben Stiller in the past, called Greenberg. It was actually the best film i have seen Ben Stiller do in many years. In his latest film, he shows some really good age issues, in a very intelligent way.  He brings up subjects that we can all relate to in our adult life, and try to give a different perspective, what happens when we try to do different things, than our usual routines. I think of my grandparents Rune and Maj, they never went anywhere almost, afraid to see different places, and did not like changes. I am the oppisite, and have travelled to many places around the world, i love seeing new things, exploring creative changes, both in cultural happenings and in ordinary day life. This is a film that gives you an feeling, that it is ok to have passion for life, even when youre older. Recommended for all ages, it is nice to see that older people get recognition also in films, we have a lot to offer in today´s society. I feel like going on an bicyclye to South America, only wearing a t shirt and underwear, anyone want to join ? There will be at least one drink for each stop, just to make sure the bicycle ride is more steady.

Rating: DDD