C’mon C’mon(2021)

Submitted by Jen

POOPER:
Radio journalist Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) reluctantly cares for his nephew Jesse (Woody Norman) while his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) helps her unstable ex-husband. The pair bond during travels to New York and New Orleans, with Jesse challenging Johnny’s routines and confronting fears about his dad’s mental illness. Viv rejoins them, sparking emotional clashes about past family wounds. After reconciling in L.A., Johnny prepares to leave. Jesse records his heartbeat as a memento, symbolizing their deepened bond. The film closes with Johnny listening to Jesse’s reflective audio diary and real children’s interviews, underscoring themes of connection.

LONG VERSION:
The movie begins with radio journalist Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) traveling across the U.S. to interview children about their hopes for the future. His estranged sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) suddenly calls, asking him to watch her nine-year-old son Jesse (Woody Norman) while she cares for her mentally ill ex-husband Paul in Oakland. Johnny hesitates but agrees, bringing Jesse to his cramped New York apartment. Their initial days are awkward—Jesse is precocious, moody, and obsessed with pretending to be an orphan. He challenges Johnny’s routines, hiding in public places to test his uncle’s patience.

Meanwhile, Johnny continues interviewing kids in Detroit and New York. Jesse eavesdrops, fascinated by the process. He asks probing questions about Johnny’s past, including why he and Viv stopped speaking. Flashbacks reveal unresolved family tensions tied to their mother’s death. Viv eventually joins them in New York but remains distracted by Paul’s worsening bipolar disorder. Jesse acts out, fleeing during a concert and forcing Johnny to chase him through crowded streets. The pair bond during late-night walks, where Jesse confesses fears about his dad’s instability.

Johnny’s work takes them to New Orleans. Jesse thrives in the vibrant city, interviewing locals with Johnny’s recorder. Their dynamic shifts—Johnny becomes more attuned to Jesse’s emotional needs, while Jesse softens his rebellious edges. In one scene, Jesse stages a fake phone call with his “dead parents,” startling Johnny before admitting it’s just another orphan game. They share quiet moments discussing life’s uncertainties, like Jesse’s worry that he’ll “turn out like his dad.” Johnny reassures him, saying, “You get to decide who you are.”

Tensions resurface when Viv arrives unexpectedly. Jesse angrily confronts her about prioritizing Paul over him, yelling, “You left me!” before running off. Johnny finds him hiding under a pier, where Jesse tearfully admits he’s scared of losing his mom. The trio returns to L.A., where Viv and Johnny finally address their fractured relationship. Viv explains she felt abandoned when Johnny withdrew after their mother’s death. Johnny apologizes, acknowledging his emotional absence.

In the final scene, Johnny prepares to leave L.A. Jesse gives him a heartfelt goodbye note and asks to record Johnny’s heartbeat with his microphone, a ritual they’d shared earlier. As Johnny lies still, Jesse places the mic on his chest and whispers, “I wanna remember you exactly like this.” The film ends with Johnny driving away while listening to Jesse’s audio diary entries, where the boy reflects on love, family, and the future. Over closing credits, real children’s voices from Johnny’s interviews play.