THE ART OF GETTING BY – The Review

Okay, we’ve got yet another quirky loner guy smitten with a beautiful popular gal. Nope we’re not still with the SUBMARINE gang in Wales. We’re back in the good ole’ USA  in modern times and exploring the lives of some NYC kids at an exclusive private high school. THE ART OF GETTING BY, the first feature from writer-director Gavin Weisen focuses on the fatalistic, downbeat slacker George and his fascination with the beautiful Sally during their senior high school year.

When we first meet George ( Freddie Highmore ), he ‘s drawing and doodling during a non-art class. He frustrates his principal and teachers because he ignores homework assignments and never completes projects. One day he retreats to the school’s rooftop where he spies Sally smoking. Suddenly a school administrator charges through the roof access door. George distracts her and is written up while Sally hides. Later Sally thanks him for taking the rap for her. Visiting Sally’s apartment that she shares with her recently divorced, on the prowl mother Charlotte ( Elizabeth Reaser ) proves to be quite a contrast to the tense atmosphere at the home George shares with his mother ( Rita Wilson ) and his up-tight stepfather ( Sam Robards ). On career day at the school George is pressed into escorting a professional artist, Dustin ( Michael Angariano ) who becomes attracted to Sally. As graduation day approaches, George’s sloth finally catches up to him. If he doesn’t complete his homework from the past year, he will not graduate. Can he finally buckle down while dealing with his feelings for Sally and his stepdad’s mysterious financial situation?

THE ART OF GETTING BY has some great NYC location work and a very appealing cast, but it just seems to be spinning it’s wheels like George’s character. Highmore does his best ( excellent accent ) but you just feel the need to shake up George and get him to finish something, to put some effort into his work and social life. Roberts continues to be a like-able screen presence, but she seems to be repeating her dream-girl role from IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY. The adults don’t seem to have a lot to do, although Wilson is always a delight, and it was a nice surprise to see Alicia Siverstone as one of George’s exasperated teachers. Speaking of teachers, the scenes with George’s art teacher have a bit of spark, but this territory was better explored in ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL.  At the end we’re supposed to root for George and Sally to get together despite the lack of any real chemistry between them. Weisen show some promise with this first film. Hopefully his next effort will be an improvement.

Overall Rating: Two Out of Five Stars