Is representation alone enough to merit recommendation? Not for a cinema monk like Ben: a film school dropout who sleepwalks through a job managing a failing arthouse movie theater and stays up all night watching Criterion Collection Blu-rays on the couch despite his gorgeous girlfriend begging him to come to bed. Miko and her film festival pals are celebrating what a breakthrough it is to see people like themselves onscreen in a glossy Hollywood product, whereas bitter Ben would rather have his experiences reflected in a movie that’s actually, you know, good. Our protagonist’s inability to keep a contrary opinion to himself sours the afterparty and embarrasses Ben’s longtime live-in girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), re-igniting what appears to be a fairly frequent feud between the two about Asian representation in media.

This movie within a movie unspools at a fictionalized Bay Area Asian American Film Festival to a rhapsodic ovation from everyone in the audience. The directorial debut of “Fresh Off the Boat” star Randall Park starts with a savage parody of “Crazy Rich Asians,” featuring that film’s co-star Ronny Chieng and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu skewering the surprise 2018 blockbuster’s triumphalist wealth fantasies. (Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics Photo by Jon Pack)

Facebook Email Justin Min as Ben and Sherry Cola as Alice in 'Shortcomings.'

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