The Art of Getting By
Directed by: Gavin Wiesen
Directed by: Gavin Wiesen
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano
Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements including sexual content, language, teen drinking and partying
The indie coming-of-age story The Art of Getting By pits a fatalistic teenager (Freddie Highmore) whose drab outlook on life causes him to go through life as a slacker, without passion or dreams. He doesn’t do homework, doesn’t have friends, and doesn’t even have any hobbies or goals. But this all changes when he begins a friendship with another trouble teenager (Emma Roberts, practically playing the same role from her film It’s Kind of a Funny Story) who forces Highmore’s character to wrestle with his emotions rather than just ignore them. While the honesty of the film is admirable, the muddy tale is full of pointless sub-plots , teenage angst (and law-breaking), and confusing themes; much like the main character, our emotions towards what is happening have no connection to a message or theme; as good as everything turns out, we’re not sure how or why it did so. Much like the title, this film simply gets by as a decent, quirky drama that would have been far more powerful had it actually had something to say in the end.
Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements including sexual content, language, teen drinking and partying
The indie coming-of-age story The Art of Getting By pits a fatalistic teenager (Freddie Highmore) whose drab outlook on life causes him to go through life as a slacker, without passion or dreams. He doesn’t do homework, doesn’t have friends, and doesn’t even have any hobbies or goals. But this all changes when he begins a friendship with another trouble teenager (Emma Roberts, practically playing the same role from her film It’s Kind of a Funny Story) who forces Highmore’s character to wrestle with his emotions rather than just ignore them. While the honesty of the film is admirable, the muddy tale is full of pointless sub-plots , teenage angst (and law-breaking), and confusing themes; much like the main character, our emotions towards what is happening have no connection to a message or theme; as good as everything turns out, we’re not sure how or why it did so. Much like the title, this film simply gets by as a decent, quirky drama that would have been far more powerful had it actually had something to say in the end.
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