Liberal Arts

So Ted from How I Met Your Mother decided to write and direct a movie. I really, really like Ted so was definitely going to check it out. Plus the idea of someone moving onwards in showbiz from a TV actor to a Hollywood director (this was an indie film, but Id like to think he will move on to bigger things) is something I love to dream about happening.

So onto the film ... what was it like? Well, as far as Romantic Comedies go I feel that the best ones out there will get a 7/10 from me. Its not my favourite genre but I appreciate the scope and demographic for them and know how necessary they are. I also really appreciate a good one and love when I feel one is worthy of a 7. I am very happy to announce that this movie received a 7/10 from me.

The film is a tad pretentious and even a tad pompous, but, if you watch How I Met Your Mother you will probably feel the same towards Ted and I can only imagine that this must come from some level of reality if Josh Radnor stars as Ted and wrote and directed this film. His knowledge of the arts is obviously more indepth than most, and his love for them must also be more than most. There were many references in this film to Orchestral performances and composers, authors, painters and bands that I had hardly ever heard of. If you are of the arts persuasion I would be interested to know if this film works better or worse for you. For me, it definitely made it better as instead of Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz getting smashed in Vegas and fucking each other, there was some level of indepth discussion about semi interesting, and unknown topics. For that I was grateful as its unfortunately not always found in the Rom Com genre.

The standout for this film though, apart from anything Josh Radnor did, was Elizabeth Olsen. Elizabeth is simply mesmerising. She has fast become my favourite current actress and I cannot wait to see what else she goes on to do. Watching her in Martha Marcy May Marlene made me realsie how awesome a leading lady can be a in a film. To me that was up there with Natalie Portman in the Black Swan. The depth and intensity she showed was intense. This film is nothing like either of those two, but to be a leading lady in a Rom Com and bring a level of innocence, integrity and intelligence such as she did is a real achievement. Its worth watching just for her performance alone.

SCORE: 7/10

IMDB Information for Liberal Arts