Stutz (2022)

Phil Stutz is a renowned psychiatrist; he’s written books and he’s played a role in the mental health of countless people around the world as a result of his profession and his dedication to others. Jonah Hill is a world-famous actor, known for roles in The Wolf of Wall Street, Superbad, and more–and he’s found himself at a place in his life where he needs to seek attention from a medical professional. That professional is Phil Stutz. In Stutz, after Hill and Stutz have developed a close bond over the course of the past few years, Hill takes charge–asking the questions himself for the first time, and exploring the mind of Stutz. Stutz is not just a study of the psychiatrist, but of mental health as a whole.

For those of you that have been so wonderful as to follow my podcasts Cinema Ave. and Bain’s Film Reviews, thank you! Also, you’re likely aware of the emotional struggles that I’ve faced and continue to face, as well as about my battle with depression. Stutz forced me to revisit these things, to further analyze the things that I’m struggling with, and see them from a different perspective. For a film to be able to dive into the lives of viewers and allow them to look internally, really focus on the things that they deal with on a daily basis, is incredible. It’s especially difficult when you consider that it’s Jonah Hill sitting in front of you on screen. He’s, in some ways, larger than life. He’s a celebrity that often appears to the public as untouchable in regard to what he’s been able to accomplish in life–and seeing him break down, seeing him be nothing more than human opens the film up to anyone and everyone.

Jonah Hill, as mentioned, is presented in a different light for maybe the first time in his career. We see his emotional side throughout Stutz, and viewers are able to understand that he’s more than just the hilarious comedian that we often see him for in films. In those aforementioned films (and more), Hill is often seen as the funny guy, the comic relief–but it’s rare that viewers look at him and understand his ability to create gritty, gut-wrenching content. Stutz might be the best Hill has ever been, and he’s just being himself in this documentary. He’s still quick-witted, and he still has the ability to throw out a zinger in inappropriate situations–but he’s real here. He understands drama and passion–and that floods Stutz from beginning to end.

Stutz is incredibly cinematic for a documentary. It uses special effects, Hill still sometimes leans on his comedy as a vehicle for the difficult information that is being passed between him and Stutz, and this is filmed in a studio rather than in Stutz’s actual office. These things are addressed throughout the film as well, making it more of a cinematic experience than most other documentaries that I’ve seen–but Hill makes it a point throughout Stutz to express the importance of these decisions. Breaking down the set in front of viewers, pulling back the doors so that everyone can see exactly what’s taking place allows viewers to better understand these choices–and it continues to exude this raw, honest tone that Hill sets up so early in the film.

As I sat and watched Hill and Stutz, both celebrities in their own field, I felt equal to them–something I often struggle to do in my day-to-day life. I felt like I was part of this counseling session, like I was being given the tools needed to handle my struggles and move forward. Stutz is a therapeutic journey not just for the people involved, but for everyone watching–and, again, I think that’s a testament to this piece of Hill that we don’t often see. He understands that a Netflix audience is massive, and that Stutz will likely be seen by many–and he seems to make it a point to make the film as accessible as possible, welcoming viewers in, and allowing them to reap the benefits of Phil Stutz like he has.

Stutz is heartbreaking, groundbreaking, hilarious, touching, and about a billion other things–always moving forward, always providing viewers the ability to look inward and absorb the knowledge that Stutz and Hill provide throughout the course of the documentary. It’s hard to reach an audience in such an emotionally relevant way in a documentary–because we don’t often see the tools used in Hollywood used in documentaries, the tools used to exude emotion and draw in viewers. Hill finds ways to balance reality and Hollywood in a way that makes every second of Stutz accessible and useful. Stutz is far different from other documentaries that I’ve seen, and in the best possible ways. Jonah Hill has a hit on his hands, and he shouldn’t only be proud of how wonderful a film this is, but how many people it will help in the process.

Directed by Jonah Hill.

Starring Jonah Hill & Phil Stutz.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10