MOVIE OF THE WEEK #1 (6/17/11): THE ART OF GETTING BY
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Rita Wilson, Blair Underwood, Alicia Silverstone, Sasha Spielberg, Marcus Carl Franklin, Sam Robards and Michael Angarano
WRITER: Gavin Wiesen
DIRECTOR: Gavin Wiesen
WEB SITE: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/theartofgettingby/
THE PLOT: A major studio release that tries to have the vibe of an independent film, The Art of Getting By stars Freddie Highmore as George. Living in New York with his mom Vivian (Rita Wilson) and stepdad Jack (Sam Robards), George is a fatalistic teen who has somehow made it to become a high school senior without really trying or doing any real classwork. While George has been able to skate by pretty much without any trouble, that all changes when his principal, Bill Martinson (Blair Underwood) gives him an ultimatum: Get your act together ... Or else.
But while George finds himself unconcerned with the prospect of school, his parents' living situation and life in general, there is one thing - one person, rather - that might change that: Sally (Emma Roberts), a fellow senior who ends up taking a liking to George after an impromptu meeting on the school's rooftop. And as their friendship develops, so does George's penchant for screwing around with his schoolwork (and potential future).
So what happens when George is forced to start making some important decisions in his life? You'll have to watch the movie to find out.
THE TAKE: There's a lot of things The Art of Getting By wants to be: Hip, smart, an indie film, unconventional and potentially inspiring among them. Sadly, the fact is the film is none of these things. It, much like its main character, wanders too much, isn't focus enough and leaves you wanting much more than it ultimately delivers.
In all honesty, I really don't have much to say about The Art of Getting By because as a whole, the film really doesn't attempt to make much of a statement/impression. George isn't a rebel without a cause, he's a slacker without a cause - and that really doesn't make him that interesting. Once the character has made his bed, you really don't care how he lays in it because there is no compelling element about him to make you do as such. Be it is relationship with Sally, his seemingly-strained-for-the-need-of-the-story-since-they-treat-him-quite-well relationship with his parents, his relationship with his teachers or his general malaise, all of George's problems are problems he created for himself. I don't know if you know anyone who makes their self miserable for the sake of it, but it's kinda hard to feel anything for someone like that. Likewise, the Sally character is essentially a one-trick pony that is about as predictable as can be (as is the movie in general) and the chemistry between the two characters is mild at best. There's emotion exhibited by the characters in the film, but it fails to stir up any in you.
There are some other issues that mar The Art of Getting By from, like George, reaching its potential. There's the ways in which its supposed high school cast drinks and parties freely with absolutely no problem, the way in which the secondary characters all treat George with kid gloves ... But the biggest problem with the film is that is doesn't have one compelling element to it. It's a "cute" movie at best ... But that's about it!
PARTING SHOT: A film with a title that best summarizes what it tries to do as a whole, The Art of Getting By really doesn't - and the art in it could have been much better if it tried harder.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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