Benjamin

Benjamin, released in 2019 and directed by Bob Saget, is a darkly humorous and eccentric movie that tweaks the nose at the taboos concerning drug addiction and mental health. This film includes a star-studded lineup with Rob Corddry, Cheri Oteri, Peri Gilpin, Max Burkholder, Clara Mamet, David Hull, Jonny Weston, and Mary Rajskub, each delivering performances that latch onto the audience and don't let them go.

At the movie’s core is Benjamin (played by Max Burkholder), a seemingly calm and composed suburban teen that undergoes a character arc that oscillates between the everyday and the extraordinary, the mundane and the heartbreaking. Rob Corddry plays Benjamin's father, Jack, who begins to suspect that his teenage son is experimenting with drugs. This puts the entire family under duress, as they struggle to come to terms with Benjamin’s possible substance abuse.

A maverick in his approach, Jack decides not to take the conventional route of seeking professional aid, but rather decides to gather all their family and friends to confront Benjamin in their living room. The move is spearheaded by Jack’s partner, the wisecracking and ever-devoted Lydia, played with pitch-perfect timing by Peri Gilpin. Clueless on how to conduct an intervention, their efforts don't go quite as planned, providing the film with plenty of moments filled with irony and humor.

Rounding out the ensemble is Cheri Oteri's character, Marley, a neurotic holistic healer who gets caught up in the family's misguided intervention efforts, and David Hull’s hilarious take on “Neil," a perpetually flustered friend of the family trying to provide aid in bizarre ways. Jonny Weston adds an additional layer of chaos as Benjamin's wild older brother, who is at odds with himself over how best to guide Benjamin.

Clara Mamet’s Pace and Mary Rajskub’s Camille hold their own amidst the cast, each playing Benjamin's love interest and his teacher, respectively. Both women bring a subtler comedic touch to their roles but still manage to leave their mark in this ensemble dramedy.

Throughout the narrative of Benjamin, the audience is led through a rollercoaster of emotions, full of comic highs and dramatic lows. The film jolts back and forth from moments of hilarity as Jack's intervention plan spirals into chaos to the raw, emotional intensity as the family wrestles with the very real fear of losing their son to substance abuse. These elements are beautifully balanced, never letting the movie veer off too far into comedic or dramatic territories but maintaining a seamless blend of both.

The performances stand out and are treated with nuances that move beyond slapstick humour or melodrama, which helps the characters feel real and relatable. Max Burkholder’s portrayal of the titular Benjamin oscillates between vulnerability and a teenage audacity, bringing forth a character that's as complex as he is sympathetic. He manages to express the struggles and confusion a teen on the precipice of adulthood goes through, making his portrayal of the ostensibly flawed but genuine Benjamin, simply unforgettable.

Bob Saget’s skillful directorial steering and ability to draw out the humorous undertones within a serious theme should not go unnoticed. He successfully maintains a sense of levity while delving into the familial bonds tested and stretched to their limits in the face of adversity.

The film manages to challenge its audience, raising questions about how we approach sensitive topics as a society. Benjamin satirizes the preachy, after-school-special style of message-mongering usually pegged to such topics, while never diminishing the actual weight of those issues concerning substance abuse and mental health.

In a nutshell, Benjamin is a tightly woven dramedy that plays out as a quirky family drama and a stinging commentary on the state of mental health discourse and substance abuse. The stellar performances of the ensemble cast and the balanced blend of comedy and drama make for a genuinely compelling viewing experience. While it might provoke a few uncomfortable winces with its relentless honesty, Benjamin ultimately succeeds in delivering a thoughtful, alternately funny, and poignant movie.