In Liberal Arts, Jesse Fisher (Josh Radnor) always has his head in a book, escaping
the life in which he feels trapped. When he takes his laundry to a laundromat,
it is stolen. Returning home with new clothes, his girlfriend leaves him.
Jesse’s life needs a change; and when one of his favorite teachers from his alma
mater, Kenyon College, invites him to return for his retirement dinner, Jesse
agrees to go. In the euphoria of returning to school, he meets Zibby (Elizabeth
Olsen), a student who seems older than her 19 years. The two connect with ideas, college life, books, music, and Jesse finds himself falling love.
When he
returns back home to New York, the two correspond with real pen on paper. She
teaches him to love the music she loves, and he begins looking at the world around
him. Before long, they are in love; and when she invites him back, he must
confront the age difference which he sees as a major barrier.
The couple are totally likeable, and we end up caring what
happens to them, wanting for them a happy ending. Radnor, one of the fine ensemble actors on How I Met Your Mother, has learned the subtle nuances of the close-up. In an embrace with Olsen, he conveys volumes with just closing his eyes. It's great fun watching him embracing the life around him.
Writer Radnor has also peopled the film with wonderful
secondary characters. Jesse’s two favorite professors offer views of post-college
life from those still in it. Prof. Peter Hoberg (Richard Jennings) is retiring,
but he fears leaving the womb of the college. Prof. Judith Fairfield, played
with flair by Allison Janney, may not remember Jesse from class, but still
teaches him some lessons. A chance encounter with a neurotic college reader,
Dan (John Magaro), also changes Jesse’s life. Finally, in a fun cameo, Nat (Zac
Efron at his most personable) offers an outsider’s wisdom, wearing a bobble
hat.
I loved the characters, actors and insights of the film. If
you liked 500 Days of Summer, you’ll like this.
Liberal Arts (2012) *****
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