SHORTCOMINGS (2023)

Alice (Sherry Cola) is Ben’s (Justin H. Min) gay best friend in director Randall Park’s 2023 film adaptation of Adrian Tomine’s 2007 graphic novel “Shortcomings.”

In SHORTCOMINGS, Ben Tagawa (Justin H. Min) is a judgemental film school dropout in Berkeley, California who gives more affection to his Criterion movie collection than his girlfriend Miko (Ally Maki). After she confronts him about his lack of support and internalized racism Miko leaves Ben for an internship in New York City. He then spends the rest of his free time with his gay best friend Alice (Sherry Cola) and exploring his interest in white women.

Alice is Ben’s wisecracking lesbian-best-friend and “unreliable moral compass” who is working toward her PHD. They’re unconditionally supportive of one another, which isn’t necessarily healthy as they tend to enable each other’s bad behaviour. After a lapse in judgement gets her kicked out of school, Alice leaves a resentful Ben in California and moves to NYC with her girlfriend, Meredith (Sonoya Mizuno). Like Ben, Alice may not always do/say the right thing – but she is capable of looking inward and making the changes necessary to move forward in life. She finds happiness, but can Ben?

You can find SHORTCOMINGS streaming on Hoopla and Paramount+ (Canada), Netflix (USA) & Max (Mexico) - for rent/purchase through AppleTV, YouTube & Amazon - it’s also available on DVD & Blu-ray.

SHORTCOMINGS

2023. USA.

Director: Randall Park

Screenplay: Adrian Tomine

Based on: “Shortcomings” (2007) by Adrian Tomine

Starring: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Tavi Gevinson, Debby Ryan, Sonoya Mizuno, Jacob Batalon & Timothy Simons