Most of the focus on raising children is centered around not failing them as they learn who they are and how to navigate the world. But less talked about is how children fundamentally changes adults and can often help their development as much as the child’s. A touching new film explores what we learn from children as we teach them.
In C’Mon C’Mon we are introduced to Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix), an emotionally stunted and soft spoken radio journalist who travels the country interviewing a variety of kids about their thoughts concerning their world and their future. Johnny is soon tasked with caring for his young nephew Jesse (Woody Norman) after his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffman) is forced to travel to deal with her estranged husband’s ongoing mental health issues. Jesse brings Johnny a new perspective as they travel from state to state, effectively turning the emotional tables on Johnny.
Director Mike Mills intersperses Johnny’s interviews with kids into the story and we’re treated to their perspective on a world that never asks for their input on what’s happening around them, particularly in regards to serious subjects like homelessness, politics, and climate change that are viewed as more adult oriented. These kids however often have profound things to say about our world and society that put complicated issues into focus through the simplicity of a child’s or teen’s perspective and lack of cynicism borne by years of adulthood. And this perspective is ultimately what drives the film’s theme.
And just as the description of the film states, C’Mon C’Mon serves as an exploration of that other side of parenthood. While Johnny does help Jesse in some regard come to terms with his emotions over his dad’s condition, it’s clear from the time he spends under Johnny’s care that the rearing is reciprocal rather than pointed in just one direction. And this phenomenon is what the film seeks to explore and make a statement on, the aspect of parenting of that is less talked about but just as impactful; what raising children teaches us about ourselves as we seek to teach and guide them. As the wonderfully written screenplay unfolds, we learn that Johnny holds onto residual hurt and pain from the dissolution of both a previous relationship and the fraying of his relationship with his sister as a result of her brother-in-law’s mental health struggles. For example, in teaching Jesse adult concepts about forgiveness after Johnny blows up at Jesse for playing hide and seek in a grocery store leaving his uncle in a panic, Johnny is able to learn the necessary steps in repairing his relationship with his adult sister in a way that wouldn’t be possible if he hadn’t had to strip the concept down to its bare bones to impart it upon a child. In teaching a child the basics of managing their emotions and navigating the world, adults receive a refresher on how to re-apply those basics to their own lives as they’ve lost sight of them in the transition to the complicated world of adulthood. Through their partnership in managing Jesse during a difficult time, Johnny and Viv rediscover how to talk to each other and how to say the words that they’ve struggled to for years on end. Through the eyes of babes, adults re-discover themselves and get a little closer to their own base humanity.
This tender, emotional story is buoyed by fantastic performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman whose buddy chemistry as uncle and nephew power the film and make it such an empathetic watch that tugs at the heartstrings. Phoenix’s performance here is as magnificent as ever and would be much more of a buzzy, awards show noisemaker had he not so recently taken home numerous golden statues. Norman is charming and precocious as Jesse and serves not just as a means for Johnny to develop as a person, but a character whom the audience becomes invested in and that develops on his own during his time spent with Johnny and away from his mother.
C’Mon C’Mon is profound without being pretentious, sweet without feeling hackneyed, and contemplative about our lives, human interaction, and the world around us without feeling preachy. The chemistry displayed between Phoenix and Norman is strong and genuine, giving the quality script increased support through the emotionality created by the interaction between the two actors. The film is also a beauty to look at with its black and white cinematography that gives the film an artistic feel that also avoids pretentiousness for pretentiousness’ sake. It’s one of the finest films of the year and a real delight to watch.
Image: A24
