Liberal Arts Review

How I met your daughter-Josh Radnor falls for Elizabeth Olsen in the  independent dramedy Liberal Arts

                               Liberal Arts is a film that is going to speak to many people. It is also a film that is going to go over many people's heads. I can honestly say it did not speak to me with its subject matter but it was a film I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Furthermore-How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor is someone to look out for as a filmmaker for years to come.

                              Radnor writes, directs and stars in the film as Jesse...a nice guy who is called upon by an old professor (Richard Jenkins) to speak at a ceremony for him. It is then that Jesse falls for Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen)-the daughter of the husband and wife with whom Jesse is staying with. Zibby is far beyond her years mentally. She is smart, funny and attractive. Olsen gives a knockout performance by being able to pull of all these traits at once. Jenkins kills as always and Radnor is terrific at bringing both an emotional and a delightful side to the character of Jesse. Another person I surprisingly enjoyed in the film was Zac Efron as Nat-a hippie who shows Jesse the ways of life.

                                The film is witty but also surprisingly realistic in its approach. It is not so much laugh every couple of minutes funny as it is an interesting exploration of college life and getting old. I would wrap this up as a life-like affair of a film. There are no real dull spots in the film (at least for me.) However-people who hate films such as those from The Duplass Brothers or as us film critics like to call them-mumblecore may very well be bored by this film. There is much dialogue that can be confusing for those people who are not used to such independent dialogue.

                                Still-Liberal Arts is a fun time at the movies even though it may make people take a second look at what their lives have become. On top of this-it is surprisingly emotional and once again Radnor has proved he is a true talent in the film industry even if his films are not for everybody.

(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is Not Rated)