Although Liberal Arts centres on the relationship between the uninspired 35-year old Jesse (Josh Radnor) and the vibrant 19-year old Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen), it is not entirely accurate to label the film as a romantic comedy. Yes, boy meets girl and romance ensues, but writer/director and star Radnor uses the familiar rom-com set up to explore the way we romanticise nostalgia, and the disillusionment reality brings, rather than focus exclusively on the relationship between his leads.
Liberal Arts, which is released on DVD and Blu-ray this week, is Radnor’s sophomore effort, following a favourable response to his first feature, HappyThankYouMorePlease. This time he takes on writing, acting and directing duties. The resulting film is palatable, but flawed.
Radnor’s screenplay oversimplifies the complexities of maturity and the sobering effect of disillusionment, a flaw further emphasized by the film’s frustrating ‘everything will be ok’ tone. References to literature, music and philosophy are employed in order to provide a semblance of depth, but despite some poignant scenes, this ornate display of culture feels pretentious and clichéd. Radnor is a capable writer and he is excellent at scripting dialogue, but the film feels like it still needs further finessing to stand out.
As an actor, Radnor’s performance is generally solid, though How I Met Your Mother fans might see Jesse as a more subdued version of Ted Mosby, the character Radnor plays on the popular television program. Jesse is relatable, yet Radnor’s sometimes static performance makes him seem insipid.
Olsen, on the other hand, lives up to her reputation as the new darling of American indie cinema; she is faultless as the charming Zibby, and does her best to steer her character away from the doomed ‘manic pixie dream girl’ archetype.
The film also features a great supporting cast, but Radnor doesn’t seem know what to do with them. Despite this, the collective performances of Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, Zac Efron, Elizabeth Reaser and John Magaro are nothing short of fantastic.
Despite its flaws, Liberal Arts is, overall, an enjoyable film. It approaches its ideas in a subtle and personal manner; the result is endearing, though far from finessed. Radnor has the potential to make films with a similar poignancy and it will be exciting to see what he is capable of in years to come.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Liberal Arts
Director: Josh Radnor
USA, 2012, 97 min
Available to rent or buy through Icon Films
Rated PG
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