When You Finish Saving the World - SPOILER-FREE Review | Sundance 2022
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© Sundance Institute
Directed by: Jesse Eisenberg
Written by: Jesse Eisenberg
Starring: Julianne Moore, Finn Wolfhard, Alisha Boe, Jay O. Sanders, Billy Bryk, Eleonore Hendricks
Runtime: 88 min
Synopsis: From his bedroom home studio, high school student Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard) performs original folk-rock songs for an adoring online fan base. This concept mystifies his formal and uptight mother, Evelyn (Julianne Moore), who runs a shelter for survivors of domestic abuse. While Ziggy is busy trying to impress his socially engaged classmate Lila by making his music less bubblegum and more political, Evelyn meets Angie (Eleonore Hendricks) and her teen son, Kyle (Billy Bryk), when they seek refuge at her facility. She observes a bond between the two that she’s missing with her own son, and decides to take Kyle under her wing against her better instincts.
Editor's Note: Original review was written for Filmhounds Magazine. Full article can be found below.
REVIEW SUMMARY
When You Finish Saving the World shows Jesse Eisenberg's solid attributes as a first-time director, but the unrewarding story led by two unbearable protagonists makes it a difficult watch. Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard are excellent at making the viewer hate their frustratingly hypocritical & narcissistic characters — who disappointingly fail to show any sort of learning curve or a complete arc. Eisenberg boasts a firmly honest vision by ensuring every scene carries a clear purpose and underlying message. In the end, it’s just a matter of perspective: recognizing the lack of a healthy mother-son relationship is undeniable proof of efficient storytelling. But the third act truly needed a more impactful, less subtle conclusion.
