We all go through tough times that have us questioning many things, sometimes even our core beliefs. Those times can lead to big revelations and big changes. That’s the idea behind the new comedy Between the Temples, which opens on Friday.

The film centers on Ben (Jason Schwartzman), a Cantor who is struggling. He can’t sing, likely because he’s enduring a crisis of faith in the wake of his wife’s death. He’s now living with his moms (Dolly De Leon and Caroline Aaron), who are supportive but not totally understanding. They’re trying to fix Ben up on dates, but he’d rather see a therapist.

Still, Ben is trying to gut it out at work by continuing as the mentor for boys and girls that are preparing for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Soon, he gets a new student—Carla (Carol Kane)—who is rediscovering her Jewish roots. She’s also Ben’s former teacher, and a mentor who helped him find his singing voice as a young student.

But as they progressing in training, Ben feels a kinship to Carla that causes him to look at life and faith in a new way.

This film comes from writer/director Nathan Silver, who worked on the script with C. Mason Wells. There is something interesting and engaging about Ben, likely owing to the performance from Schwartzman. But it doesn’t always come together in a compelling way.

The film takes a while to get to the point as you’re never totally sure where it wants to go. When it does get there, it comes in the form of some painfully awkward sequences. One between Ben and the Rabbi’s daughter, Gabby (Madeline Weinstein) in a car. Another with the whole ensemble at a family dinner.

Some of that works, and for those who like that cringe style of comedy, it certainly has its moments. I enjoyed Schwartzman and Kane in the film, I also liked the supporting cast enough, but I wanted a tighter, more focused narrative.

Between the Temples is now in limited release.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.