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Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) talks to kids for a living. When we first meet this New York-based radio producer in Mike Mills’ lovely new movie, C’mon C’mon, he’s traveling the country interviewing demographically diverse young people for a new project. The upcoming show’s mission is loosely defined; presumably it’ll be a sort of aural tapestry weaving together how the members of our youngest generation see the future and themselves. 

Johnny is great at his job. Radiating warmth and genuine interest with his inquisitive eyes and perked-up ears, he needs only a few minutes to build comfortable bonds. Yet when the fundamental task at hand is suddenly grafted onto his real life, he feels at a loss. After getting an unexpected call from his estranged novelist sister Viv (a terrific Gaby Hoffmann) shortly after the film begins, Johnny finds himself looking after his 9-year-old nephew, Jesse (Woody Norman), who he doesn’t know very well. Viv’s husband (Scoot McNairy), from whom she’s separated, is having a manic bipolar episode, so she needs to travel to Oakland (she lives in L.A.) to get him some help.

Read the rest of the column, on C’Mon C’Mon and Benedetta, at 425.