Review of The Art of Getting By (2011) by Hoops2448 — 26 Nov 2011

The Art of Getting By is just the story of two pretty average teenagers. However the Writer/Director (Gavin Wiesen) has cleverly added a few eccentricities to the mix that liven up the proceedings. The Art of Getting By tells the story of George (Freddie Highmore), A high school senior who doesn't know what to do with his life and just seems to find himself meandering through life.

However he soon meets Sally (Emma Roberts) a slightly manipulative girl who befriends George merely because she finds him interesting. The film follows the two through their final year as there relationship grows and changes.

However the film does lack a certain edge, it seems a little generic with most of the characters being either rehashes of characters from other films or just familiar. That being said the acting is great with Freddie Highmore giving a remarkably honest performance of a boy with nothing to believe in and nothing to strive for.

Emma Roberts is great as the girl who is trying to avoid becoming her mother but failing at every turn. Elizabeth Reaser is also memorable as Sallys mother, a hippyish divorcee. It flows well due to good writing and direction and even provides some decent comedy at times.

Its a feel good film in every sense of the phrase but it fails to live up to its potential.