Shortcomings

Play trailer

2:03

Shortcomings

R

2023

1h 32m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

Ben, a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko, who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he's not managing an arthouse movie theater as his day job, Ben spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating in diners with his best friend Alice, a queer grad student with a serial dating habit. When Miko moves to New York for an internship, Ben is left to his own devices, and begins to explore what he thinks he might want.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Randall Park's directorial debut has humor and heart, giving star Justin H. Min a swoonworthy starring vehicle with few Shortcomings.

Read Critics Reviews

Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

08/17/2023

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

Go to Full Review

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

AWFJ.org

08/15/2023

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

Go to Full Review

Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

08/14/2023

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

Go to Full Review

Rose Ho

The Asian Cut

08/02/2025

3/5

This film is not afraid to pull its punches.

Go to Full Review

Sammie Purcell

Rough Draft Atlanta

07/23/2025

“Shortcomings" captures a particular brand of cynicism with a keen eye.

Go to Full Review

Anna Hoang

Boston Hassle

07/17/2025

3.5/5

It would be nigh impossible to confront all of Ben’s shortcomings in this ninety-minute film, and, thankfully, its core is more about one’s fumbles than piling a bunch of societal lessons.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Anonymous

08/17/2023

Never read the graphic novel. For me, it was okay, but I wouldn’t watch it again.

See more

Andrew H

08/11/2023

fantastic movie for Randall Park Director Debut! and i really loved the chemistry between Ben and Alice. great job. Sherry Cola stole the movie!

See more

Dwayne T

08/09/2023

Definitely worth a watch. Unfortunately, the movie had very little advertising.

See more

Anthony B

08/09/2023

Absolutely brilliant!

See more

Lisa

08/09/2023

It was a lot of the guy having a lot of drama. It has some funny moments and that is why I went to see it from the clips. Wont recommend it tho.

See more

Steve

08/08/2023

The main character is insufferable. The movie was shot well though.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Randall Park

Director

Justin H. Min

Ben

Sherry Cola

Alice

Ally Maki

Miko

Debby Ryan

Sasha

Tavi Gevinson

Autumn

Upgraded

76%

64%

Upgraded

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Upgraded

French Girl

24%

63%

French Girl

Watchlist

TRAILER

for French Girl

Hit Man

95%

89%

Hit Man

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Hit Man

No Hard Feelings

71%

86%

No Hard Feelings

Watchlist

TRAILER

for No Hard Feelings

Someone Great

84%

64%

Someone Great

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Someone Great

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

15 Films We Can’t Wait to See at Sundance 2023

Shortcomings: Trailer 1

2:03

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Ben, a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko, who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he's not managing an arthouse movie theater as his day job, Ben spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating in diners with his best friend Alice, a queer grad student with a serial dating habit. When Miko moves to New York for an internship, Ben is left to his own devices, and begins to explore what he thinks he might want.

Director: Randall Park
Producer: Jennifer Berman, Howard Cohen, Eric d'Arbeloff, Michael Golamco, Margot Hand, Hieu Ho, Randall Park
Screenwriter: Adrian Tomine
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Imminent Collision, Topic Studios, Roadside Attractions, Picture Films, Sony Pictures, Tango Entertainment (II)
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2023, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $674.7K
Runtime: 1h 32m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings