Review of The Art of Getting By (2011) by Jiana W — 31 Dec 2011

Freddie Highmore?! He's so..... tall. I thought this kid had dropped off the face of the earth and it's a good thing he hasn't, because he is a great actor. That talent shows through in this film as well. He plays George, a smart loner who drives his teachers and parents crazy because he doesn't feel the necessity to actually do schoolwork. He doesn't believe that it ultimately means anything. But after saving the butt of his school's most popular girl, Sally, she befriends him and their relationship causes him to rethink the way he's living his life.

While it is sort of sweet at times, it isn't really plausible. There isn't really anything about George that would draw a girl like Sally to him. She's very popular and outgoing. He's strange and keeps to himself. The premise says she recognized a kindred spirit but unless that kindred spirit relates to their appreciation of art, that's about it for them. In the beginning, you wonder if she's really just toying with him, which would've made it actually believable. But then you realize that she's not. That she actually likes hanging out with him all the time. I couldn't readily buy that, even if he did keep her from getting in trouble with a teacher. Also, it's completely implausible that George could finish a year's worth of homework in such a very short span of time. Come on now.

On the bright side, the actors all do a very good job. I liked Highmore and Roberts together. I also liked the gruff art teacher.