Title: The Art of Getting By

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Blair Underwood, Rita Wilson, Sam Robards, Alicia Silverstone

Early on, the audience may think they’re watching some sort of existential ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. Towards the end, ‘The Art of Getting By‘ kind of turns into a play-it-straight ‘Billy Madison’ angle. And then there’s the middle portion, that sees its charisma levels drop faster than Anthony Weiner’s approval rating – but his libido is still kicking. Once the viewer finishes absorbing the 84 minutes, the story – with an assist from the progressive rock soundtrack – feels like adaptation from an artsy concept album by the likes of Bono from U2.

In reality, this open season drama attempts to mirror a thoughtful prose set in the NYC private high school system. It’s ‘Gossip Girl’ without the over-the-top scripting. The difference being, the theme and characters found in that farcical television show at least know what they want to be. Much like the lead in this piece, it appears that some people involved decided not to finish their provocative thoughts…”just cause.”

George (Freddie Highmore all grown-up) is a senior at a private school in NYC. He is constantly pondering every facet of life and comes to the conclusion that doing frivolous assignments in school for example, is just not worth it in the grand scheme of things. Admittedly tapped out on motivation, the only spark in his life is art. His time in class is spent doodling on textbooks; all while giving deadpan rebuttals to teachers (Alicia Silverstone in homely cameo mode) and his principal (Blair Underwood) about why he chose not do what he is told. George is fully aware how his actions come across and his only lifeline in avoiding expulsion from school is the principal who realizes his potential. (familiar much?)

Since he keeps to himself, due to not seeing a purpose in making friends, a classmate in Sally (Emma Roberts) catches his eye and heart. She rolls with the popular, well-off trust fund crew, and they welcome the uber-secure George into their realm. As George spends all his time with Sally, the guy who fails to see a purpose in life, suddenly has a fight within himself about what he truly desires.

This story is nothing more than a set of incomplete thoughts. For a good portion of this tale, the understanding of George – via his dialogue with other characters – has a way of keeping the viewer fixated on the moment. Whether it’s dealing with school, Sally, or his quasi-broken home life with his bio-mom (Rita Wilson) & step-father (Sam Robards), the initial entry into these subplots are intriguing. Issue that arises is the script/screenplay will not see any of the subplots through on the same intellectual level as they were introduced. And when they do try to bring closure to these said subplots, the approach is null-n-void by clichéd happenings. Somehow the script undermines itself and ceases to nurture the good ideas it ushers in. It really summons up the phrase of “having the glass half-empty” once the 84 minutes conclude.

What is a real annoyance about this production is how high school kids are constantly partaking in the club scene culture. Droves of them can get into a bar and order table/bottle service without an argument. Unless things have changed in the last ten years, let’s be done with this fantastical concept please. Or invite me on the next field trip so I can see how this all unfolds.

Overall, ‘The Art of Getting By’ doesn’t live up to its challenging title and/or theme. The set-up is there; the execution however, falls prey to typical Hollywood scripting. By the end, the identity of what this wanted to be is a mystery.

Technical: C

Overall: C

Review by Joe Belcastro