Shortcomings

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2:03

Shortcomings

R

2023

1h 32m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

Aug 17, 2023

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

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

AWFJ.org

Aug 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

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Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

Aug 14, 2023

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

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Rose Ho

The Asian Cut

Aug 2, 2025

3/5

This film is not afraid to pull its punches.

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Sammie Purcell

Rough Draft Atlanta

Jul 23, 2025

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

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Anna Hoang

Boston Hassle

Jul 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.

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Anonymous

Aug 17, 2023

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

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Andrew H

Aug 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!

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Dwayne T

Aug 9, 2023

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

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Anthony B

Aug 9, 2023

Absolutely brilliant!

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Lisa

Aug 9, 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.

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Steve

Aug 8, 2023

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

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Randall Park

Director

Justin H. Min

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Sherry Cola

Alice

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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

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