Liberal Arts: Movie Review

Liberal Arts: Movie Review

Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Zac Efron, Richard Jenkins, Alison Janney, Elisabeth Reaser
Director: Josh Radnor

Ah, college life.

The time when you thought anything was possible and everyone was interesting. Then, the realities of actual life intrude and it all goes a little bit south.

Josh Radnor stars as Jesse, a 35-year-old admissions officer, who's invited back to his former college to farewell his favourite professor (Richard Jenkins). Leaping at the chance, he heads back there and ends up falling for student Zibby (Olsen) - a relationship which takes him by surprise and forces him to reconsider a few of life's big questions.

Warm, whimsical and sly, Liberal Arts is an unexpected treat.

With witty dialogue, universal situations and a warmth between the two leads, it gets almost everything right. Add in yet another great character performance from Jenkins as the outgoing professor and it's something which flies in the face of traditional rom-coms. There's more of an emphasis on the romantic side rather than the outright comedy - in fact, if anything the comedy is more gentle with moments such as an ongoing spat between the pair over the Twilight book series indicative of the age differences rather than an outright ideological chasm.

Radnor and Olsen have an affable ease which ensures this film is watchable enough and pleasant enough to pass the time. Both have a connection and throw in some truly suburban leafy college surroundings and you've got the recipe for a fine time at the cinema. Anyone who's been to college will identify with the multitude of coda on display and the life lessons you learn - but more than that, it's a romantic tale which will appeal to all.

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