Numb (2007) Film Review

I don’t really want to write a film review because the movie was incredibly dull and predictable. There’s nothing worth discussing in it.

The film’s description led us to believe that it revolved around “a chronically depressed screenwriter desperately tries to cure his condition when he meets the girl of his dreams.”

But let me tell you, that’s completely bullshit. Every single word of it. This is the first time I’ve encountered a film description that is 100% inaccurate.

Firstly, the protagonist is not a screenwriter. He’s a colleague or companion of screenwriter, helping him sell his scripts. He’s more like a manager or promoter. In this way, the involvement of film Numb (2007) to the cinema about writers is completely sucked out of the finger, but it’s a stretch to say it’s about writers. The screenwriter does make an appearance in the film, but he has a secondary role and is barely present in the storyline.

Secondly, the main character doesn’t suffer from chronic depression. While he’s diagnosed a few times by doctors, it’s not depression. Although his condition shares some similar symptoms, it’s not the same.

Thirdly, the “girl of his dreams” enters the picture during his treatment, not as a result of it. He was already undergoing treatment and would continue even if he hadn’t met her. She has no connection to his treatment; they simply meet each other.

So, how can I trust the descriptions from that point onward? Movie Numb (2007) is about something entirely different. This is both disappointing (as I dislike deception) and intriguing.

Matthew Perry

He’s a renowned actor. Perhaps only those who are unfamiliar with Michael Jackson don’t know him. I’m a fan of Matthew Perry, and he delivers a convincing acting here. I can only speculate as to why he was chosen for this role. He has had personal experiences with substance abuse in real life, which likely contributed to his portrayal of the character’s psychological issues. It’s possible that he had a hand in shaping the character, adding his own elements through improvisation, and it greatly enhanced the overall quality of the film, preventing it from being a complete disaster.

Without Matthew Perry, this movie would have been much worse. He did a fantastic job. His appearance perfectly aligns with the character, and his mannerisms, movements, and dialogue — whether it’s acting or his own rich life experiences — add an extra layer of authenticity.

Film about Writers

As I mentioned earlier, this is a complete falsehood. The writer (screenwriter) has a minor role here, appearing on screen for a mere five minutes. The entire film is focused on everything but writing, and is completely detached from the writing process in every aspect.

Let the truth be known to the world.

Very simple and banal

The concept of the film is intriguing and could have garnered a positive review from me if it weren’t for the abysmal realization. Once again, I find myself witnessing the inclusion of inexplicable elements that poorly complement the strong foundation. Instead of a solid and beautiful structure, we’re left with a mundane and fragile shack that would crumble at the slightest gust of wind. Either the script (by Harris Goldberg) is incomplete, or the director (Harris Goldberg) chose to rely solely on Matthew Perry’s talent while neglecting his own duties, but the movie Numb (2007) is overly simplistic, painfully banal, and incredibly ordinary.

As I reflect on the film for an hour and a half, I wonder why I can’t recall any interesting moments. Why did it leave me empty-handed? 

I lay and pondered the film for an hour and a half.

I wanted to understand why I can not remember any interesting moment?

Why didn’t I get anything out of it?

Why did I spend my life staying the same as I was before watching?

Numb (2007) is an example of how cinema can be absent. It’s as if you looked at something, but as if there was nothing. He left no trace in you.

It’s a peculiar sensation, one I hadn’t experienced before. This is why it took me so long to articulate this feeling.

Who is this movie intended for? 

Perhaps those who can relate to similar struggles might find Numb (2007) interesting, discovering answers, parallels, and solace within it. Maybe it’s a film to watch with your partner before bedtime. I don’t know. It’s so utterly pointless that I can’t even conjure up anything worthwhile to say about it anymore.

You could make ten thousand films like Numb (2007), and the world would remain unchanged, just as it was before.

Conclusions

This film has the potential to be significantly better if the script were refined and emphasized more balanced elements. The idea itself deserves attention and recognition, as the theme is intriguing. Matthew Perry’s presence saves the film from complete failure, as he is quite handsome and delivers a solid performance. 

A terrible script, mediocre dialogues, lack of decent dynamics make Numb (2007) such that you might as well not watch it at all.

I would only consider watching it a second time if I were immortal.

My rating for movie Numb (2007) is 5 out of 10