Shortcomings

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2:03

Shortcomings

R,

2023,

1h 32m,

Romance/

Comedy/

Drama/

LGBTQ+

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85%

134 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

50+ Verified Ratings

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.

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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Randall Park

Director

Justin H. Min

Ben

Sherry Cola

Alice

Ally Maki

Miko

Debby Ryan

Sasha

Tavi Gevinson

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Shortcomings: Trailer 1

2:03

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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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