Jesse Eisenberg‘s directorial debut, “When You Finish Saving the World,” is as cringe-worthy as expected, blending the nuanced character studies of Nicole Holofcener with the awkward humor of Todd Solondz. The film focuses on the dysfunctional relationship between Evelyn (Julianne Moore), a shelter operator for domestic abuse survivors, and her son Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard), a socially awkward teenager desperate to impress his classmate Lila through his online music persona. Despite his efforts, Ziggy’s lack of political knowledge and inflated claims of 20,000 followers fall flat with Lila. Meanwhile, Evelyn becomes fixated on Angie and her son Kyle, who seek refuge at the shelter, envying their close bond and contrasting it with her own strained relationship with Ziggy.
Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut, “When You Finish Saving the World,” is a cringe-worthy exploration of a dysfunctional suburban family, reminiscent of Nicole Holofcener’s nuanced character studies and Todd Solondz’s awkward humor. The film centers around Evelyn (Julianne Moore), a shelter operator for domestic abuse survivors, and her son Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard), a socially awkward teenager obsessed with impressing his classmate Lila through his online music persona. Meanwhile, Evelyn becomes fixated on Angie and her son Kyle, who seek refuge at the shelter, envying their close bond. Despite strong performances from Wolfhard and Moore, the characters’ narcissism and lack of self-awareness create a sense of distance. Eisenberg’s screenplay borrows heavily from Solondz’s style, but the film’s bold attempt to explore complex mother-child relationships is ultimately misguided, making for an uncomfortable viewing experience
