The 'coming home' story is very prolific in cinema. Another TV star, Zach Braff made a similar film 'Garden State'. In most films when someone returns home it is usually because of a death. So it was refreshing with 'Liberal Arts' that it was for a friend's retirement. From the reviews I read I had fairly high expectations for this film. You will no doubt say that I should not believe reviews, but these are from critics that I greatly respect and admire. This film is good but not as great as I was hoping for. The story is interesting from the perspective that many men who date younger women don't agonize over the age difference so much. I was perhaps expecting it to be funnier. It does have some very amusing moments. My favourite being when Jesse finds Zibby reading a vampire book. It does however make Jesse come off as a snob which made me dislike the character and thus turn me off the movie a bit. I did however like the way the relationship resolved itself and the ending.
I know that 'How I Met Your Mother' is a very popular TV series but it was not one I could get into. Josh Radnor looks to not only be a good writer and director but a good actor as well. Elizabeth Olsen is an actress everyone is raving about and this film is a good reason why. She is so delightful here and plays the character of Zibby really well. She has a nice level of maturity which is why Jesse falls for her. Richard Jenkins is another one of those actors that can do no wrong. I don't think it is possible for him to give a bad performance. Likewise for Allison Janney. Her role is a small one but incredibly effective. She can say so much from just one look. I also liked Elizabeth Reaser in her small part as well.
You might enjoy this more than I did. I think I was expecting it to be a lot better than it was. It is still enjoyable though.
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