Product Details

• Actors: Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans
• Directors: Noah Baumbach
• Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Focus Features
• DVD Release Date: July 13, 2010
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002ZG97TC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,769 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Greenberg [Blu-ray]" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Roger Greenberg (Stiller) is single, fortyish and deliberately doing nothing. In search of a place to restart his life, he agrees to housesit for his brother in LA and tries to reconnect with his former bandmate (Rhys Ifans) and successful ex-girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh). But old friends aren't necessarily still best friends, and Greenberg soon finds himself forging a connection with his brother's personal assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig). Despite his best attempts not to be drawn in, Greenberg comes to realize that he may at last have found a reason to be happy. Critics rave, “Greenberg has a soul, a heart and a sense of humor.” (Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unlikable characters but excellent acting and script, April 6, 2010

By 

RMurray847 (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Greenberg (DVD)

A "romantic comedy/drama" featuring depressed and unlikable people is a tough sell. That GREENBERG works to the degree it does is a testament to the good writing and outstanding acting...but it cannot completely overcome the essential problem embedded in its premise. That doesn't mean a movie about unlikable people is a bad idea, but expecting such a film to receive a warm, loving embrace by the audience is a bit of a stretch.

Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) a New York based carpenter who once had a shot at rock star glory, is recently out of a mental institution for severe depression. He's now in Hollywood, house-sitting for his brother and family, who are on extended vacation. House-sitting pretty much involves taking care of Mahler, the family German shepherd. And Roger is assisted in this minimal task by Florence (Greta Gerwig), the personal assistant of Roger's brother...she brings him groceries and essentially handles any small tasks Roger might have.

Thus, Roger is allowed to wallow in his self pity. He "engages" himself in the idea of constructing a doghouse for Mahler...and constantly insists that he's doing a great and noble and generous thing by building it. Yet, over the course of what feels like a few weeks, he only gets about halfway done. He is stuck in a malaise of self-hatred...which hatred he shares generously with those around him by being scornful and dismissive. Everyone is a fake or a phony. Everyone is worthy of derision. But when simply arising in the morning is a monumental task, I imagine it would be hard to care much for your fellow man.

Florence, a clearly intelligent young woman who is also adrift in a life going nowhere, would normally be the most depressing character in any other movie, but in comparison to Roger, she is practically sunshine and light. She also suffers from low self-esteem, which has her engaging in a series of one-night stands that leave her clearly unfulfilled and feeling even worse about herself. She and Roger drift into a "sort of" relationship. They come together briefly for a "date," then Roger says or does something awful and the bounce apart. Her friends tell her to leave him alone. His inner-voice makes him wonder why he treats her so badly. He clearly likes something about her (perhaps her openness to feeling, rather than his cutting-off of feeling), but then he acts as though he can't abide her. He's like the kid in elementary school who punches the girl he really likes, to show how immune to liking a girl he is.

Stiller also reaches out to his old bandmates, particularly Ivan (Rhys Ifans)...these men were once his friends, but years ago, with a record contract on the table, Greenberg apparently scuttled the whole deal and the band fell apart. This has bred enormous resentments between the men. Ivan, a good man struggling to hold his family together, seems genuinely interested in befriending Greenberg. He seems to feel responsible for providing some companionship, however strained, to this lost soul. But Greenberg can't stop picking away at the man, mocking his choice of a marriage partner and generally belittling him.

What is convincing about GREENBERG is that no one has a sudden flash of redemption. The script hews closely to what "real life" would be like...if these characters DO make any progress, it will be tentative and painfully slow. Most of the time, it's one step forward, two steps back. The best we can hope for is to see the dynamic shift to two steps forward and one step back.

This makes it very hard to warm up to the characters. They are fascinating and involving, but throughout viewing this, I was constantly telling myself, "These are awful people. I could care less what happens to them." This was particularly true for Greenberg. I felt sorry but frustrated for Florence...but Roger Greenberg needed a good smack upside the head.

That the movie is enjoyable at all is due to some sharp writing, including the use of the dog Mahler as the vehicle through which Roger and Florence can tentatively bond. Their concern for the dog gives them excuses to come together, even when angry at each other. Further, the excellent work from Stiller and Gerwig elevates the film. These two interesting actors give themselves completely over to their work, and it's very effective. Gerwig is not someone I've noticed before, but she is vulnerable and assured in her work. I'd like to see her now tackle a less trouble character; I suspect there's an effervescent personality there. And Stiller has always had a dark side, even in his most "family friendly" characters; but here he just gives himself over completely to that darkness. I hope like heck he isn't really like this...but he sure plays it convincingly. And Rhys Ifans gives another outstanding performance. He's quiet and contained, so that when his inevitable outpouring of feeling comes, the impact is all the greater.

I encourage adult movie-goers who enjoy tight writing and good acting to check out GREENBERG. If you're looking for a "happy" time at the movies, though...look elsewhere.

26 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's NOT a "Ben Stiller" Movie!!!, July 4, 2010

By 

Jazz Man (Madison, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greenberg [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

This is a Noah Baumbach movie. People looking for a wacky, slapstick 'Night at the Museum' type kiddie movie should not go anywhere near this hard and piercing character film. Anyone who complains that this film "isn't funny enough" completely misses the point of both the film and the character. This is a film by adults, for adults.

Writer/Director Noah Baumbach's previous films are Kicking & Screaming - Criterion Collection, The Squid and the Whale (Special Edition) and Margot at the Wedding. The tone and harsh reality of those films should give you a good idea of what to expect here. The film has a number of uncomfortable scenes but they aren't played in a broad and obvious way as many other films might have done. Greenberg seems very, very real. The laughs earned by the film come from a very perceptive observation of a character who seems lost wherever he goes.

What Ben Stiller does with this role is a revelation -- he makes an audience sympathetic to a very unsympathetic character. If a character like Greenberg has even the slight possibility of finding love and happiness then there is truly hope for us all.

Ben Stiller hasn't shown acting chops like this in years and it's very refreshing to see him take on an adult role for a change.

'Greenberg' is easily one of the best films of 2010 and will find a place on many Top Ten lists. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed, August 11, 2010

By 

RG69 (US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Greenberg (DVD)

After seeing some of the scathing reviews on Amazon I was really hesitant to watch this movie. With remote in hand I was ready to stop it anytime I lost interest. Strangely the movie held me all the way through. After watching it I still am not completely sure of the point of the whole movie, but it was interesting. Filled with quirky characters that are not cuddly and likable, it is well acted drama with bits of humor. Stiller is much more subdued than his usual characters and I think he does an excellent job portraying a man who is getting over a complete nervous breakdown. This is just one of those odd little independent films that I will probably watch over and over on cable and never really figure out why I like it.