With C’mon C’mon, Mike Mills continues his deeply personal exploration of familial relationships, following Beginners (about his father) and 20th Century Women (about his mother). This time, he turns inward, reflecting on his role as a father and the complexities of raising a child in an uncertain world. The result is a delicate, introspective film that is both heartfelt and deeply human, even if it doesn’t always hit the emotional highs of Mills’ previous work.
At the heart of the story is Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix), a radio journalist traveling the country conducting interviews with children about their thoughts on the future. When his estranged sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) asks him to care for his young nephew Jesse (Woody Norman) while she deals with her husband’s (Scoot McNairy) mental health crisis, Johnny unexpectedly embarks on a transformative journey of his own. What begins as an obligation turns into a profound bonding experience, as Johnny and Jesse navigate their evolving relationship against the backdrop of a cross-country trip.
The movie’s most striking element is its cinematography. Shot in a soft, grayscale palette by Robbie Ryan, C’mon C’mon feels visually distinct from typical black-and-white films. The muted tones complement the film’s quiet, sentimental nature, reinforcing its themes of memory, nostalgia, and emotional introspection. Mills’ signature use of documentary-style interludes—real interviews with children woven into the narrative—adds an extra layer of authenticity, grounding the film’s broader themes in real-world voices.
Performance-wise, Woody Norman delivers one of the most impressively natural child performances in recent memory. His Jesse is precocious, inquisitive, and occasionally exasperating in a way that feels entirely real. Joaquin Phoenix, meanwhile, gives a more subdued, connective performance than his other work around this time in Joker or You Were Never Really Here, though at times, his natural screen presence feels a bit too weighty for Mills’ understated style. While Phoenix is excellent, the adults in Beginners and 20th Century Women—particularly Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, and Elle Fanning—felt more organically suited to Mills’ writing strengths.
If there’s a flaw in C’mon C’mon, it’s that its reflective, meditative tone occasionally verges on airless. Mills has a tendency to write children as more introspective and articulate than they often are in real life, and while Jesse’s perspective is engaging, some moments feel overly scripted. Additionally, the film’s episodic structure can lead to pacing lulls, particularly in the second half.
Still, despite these minor quibbles, C’mon C’mon is an effortlessly likable and emotionally raw film. Its exploration of generational anxieties, parenthood, and human connection is deeply moving, even if it doesn’t resonate quite as strongly as Beginners or 20th Century Women. With stunning cinematography, a gentle yet probing script, and one of the best child performances in recent years, Mike Mills once again proves why he remains one of the most uniquely intimate filmmakers working today.
Score: 6/10
C’mon C’mon (2021)
- Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman, Scoot McNairy
- Director: Mike Mills
- Genre: Drama
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- Rated: R
- Release Date: November 25, 2021
More Movies Directed by Mike Mills
Mike Mills has directed the following movies:
- Thumbsucker (2005)
- Beginners (2010)
- 20th Century Women (2016)
- C’mon C’mon (2021)
More Movies Starring Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix has starred in the following movies:
- Gladiator (2000)
- Signs (2002)
- The Village (2004)
- Walk the Line (2005)
- The Master (2012)
- Her (2013)
- Inherent Vice (2014)
- Joker (2019)
- C’mon C’mon (2021)
- Napoleon (2023)
- Beau is Afraid (2023)
- Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)