Review of Coming Through the Rye (2016) by Clarice P — 24 Apr 2016

I was lucky enough to see "Coming Through the Rye" at the Phoenix Film Festival. It went on to be named best picture there. The award was well deserved. Based on a true story, this film explores the angst of coming of age and the passion for great literature. The main character is a bit of an outcast at his boarding school. He is the subject of a good deal of bullying and harassment from the cool kids there. He compensates by obsessing over The Catcher In the Rye, and writes a theatre adaption as his senior project. He decides to seek out J.D. Salinger for his approval. A local girl decides to drive him on this quixotic quest.

The movie has road movie elements, coming of age themes, literary allusions, romance, and friendship mixed into one. I loved the crisp dialog and pacing of the action in the film. With the leafy campus setting and lovely rural East Coast countryside as backdrops the cinematography shines throughout. Making this great script jump off the screen is the talented cast. Chris Cooper is perfectly cast as a cranky Salinger. I only wish he could have been on screen longer. Alex Wolff and Stefania Lavie Owen truly shine as the young man seeking approval and the young lady who supports him. The chemistry between these two is electric.

This is one of the best films in the coming of age genre I have seen. I happen to be a big fan of these types of movies. I place it in the company of "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," or "The Benefits of Being a Wallflower." It is a really heart warming and interesting film.