C'mon C'mon 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

C'mon C'mon 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 3, 2026

2011’s “Beginners” explored the life of a son trying to make sense of his father. 2016’s “20th Century Women” inspected the struggle of a mother attempting to decode her son’s behavior. And now writer/director Mike Mills follows the relationship of an uncle and his nephew as they hope to understand each other while stuck in the turbulent ways of life. “C’mon C’mon” finds Mills committed to the curious ways of human connection, taking a closer look at communication in the picture, tracking the development of a union between family members that begins as basic responsibility, only to develop into something deeper for both characters. “C’mon C’mon” remains in line with previous endeavors from Mills, and he offers a compelling understanding of fears and doubts with the offering, which takes its time when inspecting personalities, keeping Mills busy adding definition to this initially confusing union.

Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) is a radio journalist on a new assignment to understand the ways young people view the world around them. The job takes him to Los Angeles, using the opportunity to reconnect with his sister, Viv (a fantastic Gaby Hoffmann), with the pair trying to heal after the death of their mother a year ago. Viv is welcoming, and she has a new crisis on her hands, tasked with finding a hospital for her estranged husband, Paul (Scoot McNairy), who’s dealing with mental health issues in Oakland. Needing help with her nine-year-old son, Jesse (Woody Norman), Viv asks Johnny to care for his nephew for an extended period of time, and he accepts, quickly realizing he doesn’t know much about the child. As Johnny handles work obligations, he’s overwhelmed by his time with Jesse, finding guardianship exhausting while confronting the profound emotions in play as he develops a relationship with the boy, eventually taking him to his life in New York City as Viv’s situation is extended.

“C’mon C’mon” does feature Mills’s love of memory, but he mostly sticks to linear storytelling this time around, following Johnny as he reenters Viv’s life after the long caretaking process for their mother. The pair were once close, and Johnny seems to want that again, trying to connect with his sister, who’s going through quite a lot with Paul. The siblings have their issues, which are repeatedly returned to in the movie as they stay in phone contact, but “C’mon C’mon” is mostly invested in the development of trust between Johnny and Jesse, with the boy initially wary of a man he hasn’t spent too much time with. Mills adds some personality quirks, including Jesse’s fondness for becoming an orphan character when he’s troubled, but the helmer mostly plays the picture straight, allowing the pair to experience a period of bonding through conversations and questions.

Johnny’s job as an interviewer is often highlighted in “C’mon C’mon,” putting the journalist around children, asking them deep questions about the lives they lead and the future coming for them. These are interesting, unguarded moments, and probing conversations continue with Jesse, who wants to know more about his uncle and his relationship with his mother, which still carries some resentment issues. “C’mon C’mon” follows Johnny’s descent into parenthood, struggling to manage Jesse’s blunt ways with his child psychology, recognizing the stress of raising a kid. Mills gets into thoughts and reflections, as Johnny maintains an audio diary of his experience, trying to articulate his thoughts on guardianship, unprepared for the intensity of it all. And there’s a physical component to the picture, with Jesse escaping from Johnny’s view on a few occasions, sending the uncle into a panic, which is exactly what the boy wants. Thankfully, Mills doesn’t lay on distracted adult shenanigans thick, using scenes of shock sparingly, helping to understand Johnny’s mental state as the initial babysitting job develops into a more sustained experience, eventually taking the two to New York City and New Orleans as professional assignments continue.

For additional information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2022 Blu-ray review.

C'mon C'mon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"C'mon C'mon" was originally issued on Blu-ray by Lionsgate Films in 2022, and returns with a new UHD release from Criterion Collection, listed as "new 4K digital master," "created from the original digital camera media." The black and white world of the movie is maintained throughout the viewing experience. It's more of a gray/silvery look, examining various locations with comfortable balance. Blacks are deep, supporting evening events and limited lighting. Detail is strong, exploring age differences on character appearances, and clothing choices maintain fibrousness, going from thinner outfits for Los Angeles to colder weather gear in New York City. Exteriors deliver appealing depths, exploring the expanse of city life and architectural achievements. Interiors are dimensional, touring living spaces, offering a look at decorative additions and textured equipment. Highlights are tasteful.

C'mon C'mon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The new release of "C'mon C'mon" offers a Dolby Atmos listening event. The power of this mix is often subtle, as most of the feature leads with dialogue exchanges, which are crisply defined here. Scoring selections are delicate, with sharp instrumentation. Surrounds work well with musical moods, creating immersive moments, but a more circular event arrives with recording segments, putting a microphone into the environment with Johnny and Jesse, which brings out panning and separation effects, following equipment movement. It's an interesting addition to the drama. City atmospherics are also inviting, following community bustle. Low-end isn't challenged, but some urban elements add a bit of weight.

C'mon C'mon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Mike Mills.

• "Making 'C'mon C'mon'" (8:10, HD) looks at the creation of the film, featuring interviews with writer/director Mike Mills and actors Gaby Hoffman, Woody Norman, Molly Webster, and Jaboukie Young-White. The featurette examines Mills's relationships with his cast, learning to pick up on habits and responses to put into the picture to keep it "alive." The cast celebrates their director, and Mills examines his time with the actors, especially careful with young Norman and his childlike ways.

• "I Am Easy to Find" (26:44, HD) is a 2019 short film from director Mike Mills.

• "A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of Thought Alone" (36:25, HD) is a visual piece from director Mike Mills "created for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, for its 2013-14 exhibition 'Project Los Altos.'"

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:29, HD) is included.

C'mon C'mon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"C'mon C'mon" really scores with intimate moments, putting Johnny to the test as he tries to answer Jesse's questions, learning more about his family and himself in the process. Phoenix is odd casting, as the actor rarely enjoys playing regular people, losing his love of twitchiness to portray an average man pulled through an experience that changes his perspective. It's interesting to see the actor earthbound for a change, breaking up the repetitiveness of recent performances, and he shares realistic chemistry with young Norman, generating authentic interplay Mills often plays out for extended periods of screen time, which does add unwelcome length to the picture. The helmer enjoys the examination of coping mechanisms and emotional breakthroughs, continuing his cinematic exploration of the human experience with "C'mon C'mon," which delivers a fulfilling understanding of the characters and the journey of their gradually strengthening relationship.