The Debut LFF review: Jesse Eisenberg’s hilarious stage comedy
After starring in Jesse Eisenberg‘s 2022 directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World, Julianne Moore is back for his third feature, The Debut.
The comedy, written and directed by Eisenberg, follows Mona (Moore), an unappreciated housewife ignored by her family. She tries out for a New Jersey community theatre production of Nosy Neighbors (a fictional musical) and lands the role of the building’s superintendent Miss Danielle. The shy, timid Mona doesn’t know how to play the ballsy character, so her director Jerry (Paul Giamatti) helps her unlock that side of herself. But she takes it too far and becomes an overconfident method actor who thinks she knows best, and it spills over into her personal life.
The Debut, which gave me Woody Allen vibes, is a delightful, hilarious celebration of musical theatre and the way it can build confidence and coax people out of their shell. I didn’t expect Mona to go on such a ridiculous, bizarre journey and I wasn’t sure about some of the turns, but I enjoyed it from start to finish nonetheless.
This is the perfect vehicle for Moore’s talents, because she goes from a sweet woman who feels invisible to a frustrating person who makes the production a difficult experience. She also transforms from someone who can’t sing or act to someone who actually does a decent job. There are a few moments that are sure to be on her Oscar nomination reel, including a shouty rant that prompted applause from my crowd. Giamatti is also excellent as her ball-busting director Jerry, who demands the world from his cast, but we’ve seen him do this role before.
The Debut has an unusual tone that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The performances are heightened and surreal, from Moore’s campy turn to Halle Bailey‘s angelic lead Stef. It’s rather bizarre, yet it somehow works. It almost matches the outdated, unrealistic musical within the film. Eisenberg impressively wrote all the original songs for the production and also appears as Todd, a member of the ensemble cast who gets his own musical number. I really enjoyed seeing him in musical theatre mode!
Eisenberg’s third feature is his most assured by far. His screenplay is excellent, he has a witty sense of humour, and he directed an Oscar-worthy performance out of Moore.
The Debut closed the London Film Festival. In cinemas January 2027