Liberal Arts

PG-13 6.7
2012 1 hr 37 min Drama , Comedy , Romance

Newly single, 35, and uninspired by his job, Jesse Fisher worries that his best days are behind him. But no matter how much he buries his head in a book, life keeps pulling Jesse back. When his favorite college professor invites him to campus to speak at his retirement dinner, Jesse jumps at the chance. He is prepared for the nostalgia of the dining halls and dorm rooms, the parties and poetry seminars; what he doesn’t see coming is Zibby – a beautiful, precocious, classical-music-loving sophomore. Zibby awakens scary, exciting, long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection that Jesse thought he had buried forever.

  • Cast:
    Josh Radnor , Elizabeth Olsen , Richard Jenkins , Allison Janney , Elizabeth Reaser , John Magaro , Kate Burton

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Reviews

Evengyny
2012/09/14

Thanks for the memories!

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Console
2012/09/15

best movie i've ever seen.

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Invaderbank
2012/09/16

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

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Dana
2012/09/17

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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Rishi Lecter
2012/09/18

People who have seen happythankyoumoreplease and have come to watch this movie is going to be kind of disappointed. It's a good movie, stronger script than latter but still the direction strength it had in happythankyoumoreplease is missing here. The background score was amazing in happythankyoumoreplease but here not so much. Although if you have not seen happythankyoumoreplease then you might love it a whole lot more.It's a enjoyable movie with wonderful sense of humor. You just got to love josh radnor for his style of direction and screenplay.Portraying the lead role as self centered guy who thinks that one should read only literature and brilliant books and by reading crappy books the world is getting worst and latter realizing it might be true but if reading the crappy books once in a while is making you happy then its cool. By this we learn to stop judging people based on what they like and not like. It's okay to do whatever you want to do if it makes you happy and if its not hurting anyone.Rating: I am giving 3.5 out of 5 stars it's a beautiful movie still not as good as happythankyoumoreplease.

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aimeebautistasuero
2012/09/19

Such a bad movie, I give it a 1 because you're not allowed to mark it as 0. It was hideous, the plot took an awful twist at the end, it was so bad it was saddening to watch. Not only was the ending not what you would expect, but it was a disaster. It had no reasoning behind it, other than the fear of the protagonist and the stupidity of the writer. At first I thought I would love it, but turns out, the writer sure knows how to kill an ending. Literally. I lost all faith in "romantic" comedies for today. Guess I'll watch some Jason Statham action movie. At least I already don't have any hopes for it, so it won't affect me so much when it utterly sucks, like this movie.

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johanschutten
2012/09/20

OK, this one is awful. Which is strange, because the acting is very good, the characters well played (although sometimes a bit over the top) and the struggle of a 35 year old falling in love with a cute 19 year old is very real. But something happened in the movie which totally broke it in my opinion. Hence, the spoiler: when 19 y/o Elizabeth invites Jesse to have sex although she's still a virgin, he refuses because of some moral dilemma's. A very real problem if you take the age difference into account. She was still in diapers when he went to high school. And, well, she's still a virgin. Jesse tells her that sex is a big deal and that he cannot do it because he learned in the years after college how special it is. Zibby (Elizabeth) is hurt, cries because of his refusal. I think it was the very best scene in the movie, because it showed an incredible precious en vulnerable moment. I loved it!But then the whole film got totally ruined by the next scene: Jesse meets his old English teacher, forms for some reason suddenly a very good connection with her and finds himself in bed with her after wards. For some reason I cannot begin to fathom he doesn't give a thing about the age difference anymore. Apparently, everything he just told Zibby was a complete and utter lie. His moral dilemma non-existent. His feelings for Zibby totally gone. I just couldn't watch it any further. I don't believe I've ever been any more turned off by a movie than this one. It's horrible. Don't watch it. It's total crap. Don't waste your time. Please.

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Danny Yu
2012/09/21

Seeing the nice score, I decided to give this indie-esque movie a shot. I was thoroughly impressed, especially upon finding out that Ted (Josh Radnor) from How I Met Your Mother had directed this! Liberal Arts is definitely a film I'd recommend to anyone wanting a fresh, intellectual take on a somewhat comedic, romantic film. By the end the of the movie, I'd have to say this. Be prepared. I was anticipating a very predictable plot, and was actually going to watch this as a feel good film. Alas, I was given a spin cycle. The dialogue was not too stale and the plot itself was something new in the genre of stale romantic films, at least for myself. Radnor, who played Jesse in the film, gave a great performance as a somewhat "awkward" bookworm. Elizabeth Olsen, Libby, was a very believably outgoing college student and the pair, together, gave this movie a lovely result. I was enticed by the film's relatability and I think anyone who is past the age of 18 and dating could probably see something special in Liberal Arts. Those who are introverts, I'm sure, will definitely have their heartstrings pulled. In such a short period of an hour and thirty minutes, I couldn't help but wanting more at the end, but if I go into that bit I may just spoil the film. Perhaps this film is how Radnor felt he should have met the mother.

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