Click here to copy URL

C'mon C'mon

100 Movies of 2021

C'mon C'mon

2021

Mike Mills

Joaquin Phoenix, Woody Norman, Gaby Hoffmann, Brandon Rush ...

6.8

1,578

Drama Johnny is an emotionally stunted and softspoken radio journalist who travels the country interviewing a variety of kids about their thoughts concerning their world and their future. Then Johnny’s saddled with caring for his young nephew Jesse. Jesse brings a new perspective and, as they travel from state to state, effectively turns the emotional tables on Johnny.

Premiere: september at the Telluride Film Festival.

	Author	Review
United States	Peter Debruge Variety	"Mills keeps things firmly grounded in real life, such that even the stylistic decision to shoot in black and white feels like an extension of his no-frills commitment to authenticity."	POS
United States	Rodrigo Perez The Playlist	"Joaquin Phoenix shines & empathy flows in Mike Mills’ sublime, micro-traumatic family drama (...) [A] perceptive, impeccably crafted winner"	POS
United States	David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter	"It’s a wispy yet insightful and emotionally satisfying film, shot with affecting intimacy in pellucid black-and-white by the great Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan"	POS
Canada	Mae Abdulbaki Screen Rant	"[It] is profound, moving and beautifully made (...) 'C’mon C’mon' connects adults with children in a thoughtful, touching, and visceral viewing experience that is sure to leave an impact on audiences (…) Rating: ★★★★½ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Carlos Aguilar The Wrap	"[Jesse's] complexities grow out of Mills’ divinely extraordinary writing (...) This soul-soothing new take on [Mills'] fixations is unguarded and achingly truthful"	POS
United States	David Ehrlich IndieWire	"[It] can be unspecific in a way that drifts toward vagueness. But 'C’mon C’mon' finds a pulse of its own in the quasi-parental friendship that forms between Johnny and his nephew Jesse"	NEU
United States	Todd McCarthy Deadline	"What 'C’mon C’mon' does have going for it in a big way is the cinematography by the Irish cameraman Robbie Ryan (...) His lustrous monochrome work here (...) a constant pleasure to behold."	POS
United Kingdom	Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"'C'mon C'mon' is a well-made film (...) Robbie Ryan's monochrome cinematography is lovely, though it makes every scene look like a picture from the same expensive coffee-table book (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Matt Dougherty IGN	"Mike Mills gets the very best from Joaquin Phoenix by pairing him with the young Woody Norman. Their pitch-perfect chemistry enlivens this quiet road drama"	POS
United States	Natalia Keogan Paste Magazine	"It’s hard to imagine the film’s success without the dynamic chemistry between Phoenix and Norman"	POS
United States	Keith Watson Slant	"'C’mon C’mon' admirably doesn’t indulge in heartstring-tugging pathos, but the film suffers from a certain shapelessness (…) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"	NEU
United States	Leah Greenblatt Entertainment Weekly	"[Phoenix] has rarely seemed this loose or vulnerable on screen (...) [Mills displays] bittersweet, gently profound collisions of art and life."	POS
United States	Mike D'Angelo AV Club	"Phoenix keeps the guy relatively grounded. And there are genuinely touching moments scattered throughout this empathetic drama"	POS
United Kingdom	Tim Grierson Screendaily	"[It] is a gentle drama, but its deep emotional wellspring is mitigated by how wise it is about what impossible little monsters kids can be when they’re acting out."	POS
United States	Michael Frank The Film Stage	"[The director] gets his audience to shed earnest tears, both happy and sad. There’s something special about that, about Mills, and about 'C’mon C’mon'."	POS
United States	Monica Castillo rogerebert.com	"'C'mon C'mon' is the kind of movie that invites reflection (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	Zach Long Time Out	"A naturalistic and unconventional homage to the bond between children and adults (...) A touching story about how our relationships can provide solace and personal growth (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Peter Travers ABC News	"A heartfelt family dramedy (...) 'C'mon C'mon' is a quiet thing, but thanks to Mills and a note-perfect cast, you won't soon forget its delicate, soulful magic"	POS
United States	M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut	"A tender and loving drama, 'C'mon C'mon' is Mike Mills's best film and has a performance by Gaby Hoffman that deserves more critical praise (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"	POS
United Kingdom	Hanna Flint Empire	"Phoenix, Hoffman and Norman, especially, amuse and move with their relatable performances in Mills' sweet drama. It's nicely visualised but can feel unnecessarily long in places (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Hoai-Tran Bui SlashFilm	"There's something about a Mills film that feels like it's gently caressing the hair out of your face and kissing you on the forehead: a softness, a wistfulness that acknowledges how hard reality can be while tucking you into bed"	POS
United States	Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times	"Phoenix and young Woody Norman are terrific together, but never in a cutesy, actor-ish way (...) A work that deftly toggles between a slightly surreal journey and a gritty, realistic tale (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	John Serba Decider	"'C'mon C'mon' is a lovely film, beautifully shot, acted and written"	POS

Return to movie

We encourage you to check the reviews' original sources. Intellectual property rights of these reviews belong to their authors and/or the correspondent media from which they have been extracted. If you'd like to help us to add more reviews to your favorite movies, just send us a message.