Review of The Art of Getting By (2011) by Kerri B — 25 Jun 2011

Let me begin by saying I'm a girly girl, and I love sappy romance movies, especially slightly edgy ones. You know: say anything, the breakfast club- even 500 days of summer and definitely, maybe. This movie seemed right up my ally, in that way.

I don't know who wrote this script, but every character, every conflict, and every relationship in it was under-developed. It reminded me of what an angsty 14-year-old girl with low-average writing skills would think was a great story. Both of these young actors- Emma Roberts and Freddie Highmore- have been great in other things, but they were wasted on this movie.

The main character, George/Freddie, is all too often frustrating to watch. He is socially awkward, outright rude to his teachers and elders, and his relationship with Sally comes on too fast and too randomly to be anything near realistic. Every twist is entirely predictable, as well. Because who would have guessed that George/Freddie's best piece of artwork, the piece that earns him his diploma (as if an entire year of incomplete curriculum could be made-up right before graduation and still result in a degree...) would be an overly sentimental painting of his beloved Sally?

And a lot of the time, I struggled to really understand the depth of George/Freddie's feelings for Sally/Emma. Why was he still in love with her after she ditched him for hours while he puked and passed out in an ally? And Why did he still love her after she'd been sleeping with his mentor and had generally been a dick-tease to him throughout their entire friendship?

I don't know. I just don't know.

PLEASE do not waste your time/money watching this.