Shortcomings

An engaging and likable romantic comedy that doesn't follow the formula of a romantic comedy -- which is a good thing.

What it lacks in subtext it makes up for in pure, dazzling energy&#59; Shortcomings brings raw ‘90s indie romcom vibes to a contemporary story about race and sexuality

[A] quirky, breezy and occasionally biting Asian American rom-com.

Tomine’s compact, easily digestible story -- segmented here into even more easily digestible chapters, complete with cutesy pastel-hued title cards -- moves along pleasingly enough but hasn’t been given the vigorous comic reimagination it cries out for.

A wickedly funny, absorbing character study.

Though it delves into some dark territory, “Shortcomings” has a light touch and is at times very funny.

... There are no grand gestures or last-minute races through the city here. Instead, there are sharp, sometimes snarky, usually self-centred observations on modern-day mores, bad behaviour and contemporary “art”.

Shortcomings avoids romantic comedy clichés by not focusing on who's going to be in a happy romance at the end. It's a mostly entertaining character study of a cynical grouch and his lesbian best friend, as they navigate the dating scene.

Much of the humour is sharply pointed in an unusually soft-spoken way, and in his directing debut Randall Park maintains earthy rhythms that hold the interest.

In a way, it’s a film for underdogs, by underdogs, about underdogs, and its honesty is heartwarming to say the least.