Review of film: “THE ART OF GETTING BY”

2011, 06-16:

Review of film:  “THE ART OF GETTING BY”          

George Zinavoy (FREDDIE HIGHMORE) is an “odd bird” who attends a private high school called MORGAN in New York City...

...  He’s seemingly very bright, but doesn’t make much of any real “EFFORT” in his school classes (or anything else in life).  Freddie feels, we’re all going to die anyway, so why “BOTHER” doing much of anything, since it won’t really “matter” much?!...

...  He’s a fatalist & fairly DEPRESSED overall, & has no real FRIENDS at school since he acts so “detached” & “OUT of it”, doodling most of the day...

...  Freddie clearly has a talent at ART, & even takes a CLASS in it at school--  but he doesn’t even really “try” THERE either, doing things like drawing a caricature of his male teacher (which disturbs the teacher because of how Freddie’s wasting his talent)...

...  Freddie’s other teachers, such as Mrs. Grimes (played by ANN DOWD) & Mrs. Dougherty (ANN HARADA), grow very frustrated with his attitude & lack of effort... 

...  He often gets sent to Principal Martinson (BLAIR UNDERWOOD), who keeps pointing out he’s not going to GRADUATE unless he “buckles down” & does the required work & tests in school...

...  Freddie lives with his mom, Vivian Sargent (RITA WILSON), who’d divorced his dad (who now lives in Asia) when he was a young boy... 

...  She’s remarried, & his step-dad, Jack (SAM ROBARDS), tries to be “ENCOURAGING” towards Freddie--  but efforts by him & Rita just don’t really get “THRU” to Freddie because he just doesn’t “CARE” in life...

...  One day at school, Freddie takes the blame for something done by a pretty classmate named Sally Howe (EMMA ROBERTS), & that thoughtful act causes her to try to get to know him better...

...  Emma has Freddie join her table at lunch, & gets him talking to her friends Zoe Rubenstein (SASHA SPIELBERG) & Will Sharpe (MARCUS CARL FRANKLIN).  Marcus urges him to design artwork for a party invitation he wants to send out, & (urged on by Emma), Freddie does that...

...  All that gets Freddie INVITED to the party...  He works to spend most of his time with Emma at the event (+ going to & from there)--  but he doesn’t truly “ENGAGE” much with her or other people, speaking in a detached way & not making real “EFFORTS” socially (which “turns off” some of the people all the more)...

...  At one point, Freddie is given a “punishment” at school wherein he needs to “host” a visit by a previous graduate from the school, a painter named Dustin (MICHAEL ANGARANO)...

...  Michael LIKES Freddie (who reminds him a bit of himself), & tries to become a “MENTOR” to him...  When Michael invites Freddie to his home (where he paints), Freddie brings along Emma...  But, as usual, he’s not “forthcoming” in his dealings with Michael or her...

...  On other “outings”, Emma makes clear to Freddie that she’d like to get “WITH” him  sexually--  but, he (as usual) is “UNRESPONSIVE” to her, fearing she’s trying to make “FUN” of him & the like by the questions she asks & all... 

...  Will Freddie reveal the “secret” his STEP-DAD is keeping from his mom?...  Will Freddie ever do the work he needs to graduate?...  Will he allow himself to get “closer” to EMMA?... 

...  Will Emma get “with” MICHAEL, who clearly has taken a “shine” to her?...  Will Freddie start CARING about life & himself to really “DO” something worthwhile with his time & talents?...

...  This is the FIRST feature film by writer – director GAVIN WEISEN.  He’s written a very interesting film, with an unusual central character (George, played by Freddie) who’s generally charming but unable to really “RELATE” in standard ways to others around him (which makes it hard for him to move forward in life)...

...  Freddie does a fine job playing the difficult role, having to look “real” while he’s using “STILTED” almost “unnatural” dialog & actions in the way he “responds” to people & events around him...

...  He’s not a wise-cracker or inherent “screw-up” or a “rebel”, so much as simply “OUT”-of-it because of his defeatist / dejected outlook on life...

...  It’s hard to make an audience “CARE” about such an unusual fellow, but Gavin & Freddie (+ Emma & Michael) do a good job at making it “work” as much as possible...

...  The film is described as a “love letter” to New York, which it is as to the “SIMPLE”, “personal” (rather than “flashy”) sides... 

...  The characters (& script) are ALSO not designed to be “showy”.  So, if you like “UNDER-stated” coming-of-age type dramas, you’ll probably ENJOY this gentle PG-13 effort, which I’m rating at 7.25 out of 10 stars...

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