Title: The Art of Getting By

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Anagarano, Rita Wilson and Blair Underwood

Existentialism in movies is a hard thing to nail down. How do you illustrate nothingness in being in a movie which has a plot, narrative and characters? It is even harder to pull this off and be completely entertaining. I wanted to like this movie so much but I feel it got in the way of itself. For all the themes and relationships presented in the movie, it ultimately falls flat but is, somewhat, kept alive through its very charming leads, Freddie Highmore and, the alluring, Emma Roberts. But as much as their chemistry and interactions appealed to me, their nuances and situations, in relation to their world, ring false.

“The Art of Getting By” follows George Zinavoy (Freddie Highmore), a high school senior struggling with his mortality and existence and therefore feels no need to go on, not quite suicidal, George searches for meaning in life. His schoolwork lacks despite his intellect and he’s threatened with expulsion, leading to not graduating. His home life also lacks that foundation he is searching for. His world is changed when he meets Sally Howe (Emma Roberts), a girl in his class with very little in ways of attributes and traits but is kind, good, curious and an inspiration to George. What is missing from this recipe is a genuine spark. Their worlds are different and we see their influence on each other but themselves as individuals are so surface, it’s hard to fully trust this relationship.

A subplot which involves George graduating feels false as well and gives an unclear message of hard work. George hasn’t turned in a single assignment all year and at the last minute, he’s presented with a decision, make up every assignment in three weeks and graduate or expulsion. What does this say about hard work? Half-ass your way through life and you’ll manage it OK. The idea of getting by is rewarded instead of punished, again rings false and, somehow, conventional, when a montage of George at his desk completing assignments complete with hip indie music in the background does not come off artful as the title suggest.

George’s family and friends seem to be only constructs to get him along his way. An artist is introduced only to serve as a glimpse of George’s future and a device, in pursuit of Sally. And often times, Emma Roberts as Sally is surface, which is blamed on the faulty script but enhanced with her charm and screen presence. I feel a better movie in this one, only if it were more focused and tight. Emma Roberts is a vision and I look forward to her next film and I see further down the line, she’ll be a bonafide star in Hollywood. She’s an actor that goes for it, which is commendable, but has to take stronger roles, with stronger material.

Freddie Highmore is very strong as well, which is suffocated by the material. He has an engaging air to him and need to be fully explored. But as an audience, we get a hint of something lingering there, but it’s never truly explored in an interesting way. This film should’ve been more character based but instead it was set at being more plot driven, which is all wrong for small films like this. Movies like “Rushmore” and “Harold and Maude”, serve these kind of films and what they strive for better, “The Art of Getting By” is just so lackluster and false.

Side characters only to serve the story and main character’s actions that only serve the plot, keeps an audience from liking this movie despite its tricks on casting and tone. It comes off as obnoxious rather than charming and sweet. “The Art of Getting By” doesn’t get by on these very surface elements. It feels like it wants to be smart but, again, gets in its own way.

Technical: B-

Overall: C-

by @Rudie_Obias