Writer/director Noah Baumbach has done it again. And with a level of astounding success that it almost makes his past movies – Margot’s Wedding, & The Squid and the Whale – pale by comparison; if you can imagine that. This time he teams with his (real life) wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, in a story about Roger Greenberg, who’s visiting his brother’s house in Los Angeles after having a nervous breakdown in New York City, so he’s a bit “delicate.” He’s also a carpenter, and he’ll attempt to build a dog house for his brother’s dog while the brother is away on vacation with his family. Enter Florence (Greta Gerwig) the family’s assistant. Her number has been left on a page of house instructions – to call her in the event anything goes wrong. In this case, everything goes wrong. And everytime Roger reaches out to her, whether its for his supply of ice cream sandwiches or instructions on how to feed the dog, he remains a complete jerk while she is dead-on honest and refreshing. Baumbach has a knack for focusing on the upper-class and not just by way of studying them, but by dissecting them. The beauty of a film like this is while nothing really happens – except for vet visits for the family’s sick dog – the plot is deeply explored minus the need for explosives, special effects or blockbuster names. Gerwig is delightful and original. Move over Julia Roberts. As for Mr. Stiller, this is the first time he’s attempted comedy with really raw nerves and minus his usual fish out of water, spoiled-brat demands. Four tiaras
