Jonah Hill's therapy film Stutz, coming to Netflix on November 14, could change your life. That's Hill's hope, anyway. The 38-year-old actor best known for his roles in comedies like Superbad and 21 Jump Street changed when he met his therapist, Phil Stutz, at a low point in his life. I'll admit, I was skeptical when I first heard that Hill had directed and starred in a documentary in which he interviewed his therapist. The idea is uncomfortable. Therapy is meant to be private, contained, and not discussed in polite company... right? Broadcasting your sessions to the world is an exercise in narcissism, indulgence and oversharing... right?
Hill demonstrates that this line of thought is incorrect. He uses his celebrity platform to further destigmatize the social taboo on therapy and provide a much less expensive option for those of us who can't afford Hollywood rates. But more than that, it opens up in a way so raw and honest that even the most cynical viewers will be moved. It helps that Hill's interview subject, Stutz, is a no-nonsense, down-to-earth guy. Yes, he's a big-name psychiatrist with books and Hollywood clients, but it's immediately apparent that Stutz isn't starving for fame from his Instagram and Twitter following. He's just a man who's good at his job and has been doing it for a long time. Stutz and Hill have an easy, brotherly tug-of-war. Stutz makes fun of Hill for "dropping all this shit" on him, and Hill laughs like it's the best joke he's ever heard. It is nice.
Director: Jonah Hill
Stars: Jonah Hill, Phil Stutz
At first, Hill is only interested in walking through the steps of the therapy he himself received. Stutz takes a hands-on, hands-on approach to cognitive behavioral therapy that involves "tools," which can help his clients understand and improve themselves. One of the first tools Stutz uses with patients is the concept of a "life force pyramid," which has three levels: their relationship with their physical body, their relationship with people, and their relationship with themselves. Here, Hill chimes in that he wishes diet and exercise had been framed through a mental health lens for him growing up, rather than as an issue with his appearance. But when Stutz pushes him to expand, Hill shuts down. “This is a movie about you, not about me,” he says.
If you think it sounds naive, obviously this is a movie about Hill, don't worry. He gets there. About 30 minutes later, the whole concept of the movie dissolves. I won't spoil how, exactly, but Hill makes an effort to be vulnerable as a filmmaker, and the movie transforms for the better. The moment is not unlike a breakthrough in therapy: raw, awkward, and honest. Painful, but incredibly necessary. It's a big breakthrough for Hill and the movie, but also for Hill's on-screen relationship with Stutz. Hill allows Stutz to participate in the process in more ways than one, and as a result, you witness in real time the moment when this becomes more than just a seasoned therapist going along with his famous client.
Stutz shares stories about losing his brother when he was a child, being diagnosed with Parkinson's in his early 20s, and his on-and-off romantic relationship. Hill, in turn, opens up about her body issues, her struggles with fame and media attention, and the loss of her brother, Jordan Feldstein, in 2017. When the two men locked eyes and sincerely professed their love, I collapsed in tears. It doesn't all work out, there's an awkward confrontation between Hill and his mother that he could have done without, but as Stutz tells Hill, he was never going to be perfect. Nothing is. You just have to keep going. That's all there is.
Watch Stutz 2022 Movie Trailer
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