Liberal Arts

Allison Janney will always occupy a special place in my heart. Her portrayal of White House Press Secretary C. J. Cregg in The West Wing (possibly the best American drama series ever) was nothing short of masterful and it was my admiration for her that convinced me to see Liberal Arts – the new film from director/writer/producer/star Josh Radnor. Allison, you didn't disappoint but shame about the rest of the film.

Watching Liberal Arts is an odd experience. It begins with thirty-something Jesse (played by Radnor) returning to his old college to attend a professor's retirement party and meeting Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen), a nineteen-year-old student. From the outset, it's obvious that the two have a connection as they exchange tentative glances, snatched whilst no-one else is looking. As their relationship developed throughout the first thirty minutes of the film, I found myself heaving a largely-cynical sigh. This was going to be a clichéd, predictable romance with shots of the pair lying together in the lush grass of campus, discussing the merits of life, love and being young. Whilst there was plenty of the latter, I was rather surprised (and pleased) as to how their courtship developed.

Before you think that I was deeply moved and affected by their relationship, I wasn't. Never without a book in his hand, the character of Jesse – sixteen years Zibby's senior – was distinctly annoying and seemed incapable of holding any conversation without discussing the existential meaning of life and age. Indeed, I was half expecting him to launch into a monologue about the virtues of post-modernist literature whilst ordering a latte. Zibby, too, was vaguely grating, although Olsen is quickly becoming one of the most vibrant acting talents of the future. Her performance was both nuanced and bold and was utterly convincing as a college student older than her years.

One of the film's main themes is that of ageing and nostalgia. When Jesse returns to the college campus, he seems much more alive than during scenes at his home in New York. This idea of idolising college years and youth in particular, was nicely handled – even if it was mediated through characters I could quite happily have hit with a copy of Catch-22. That said, there were moments of comedy and biting lines of dialogue which always managed to stay good-natured.

Of course, Allison Janney was brilliant as a professor of British Romantic literature with something of a rock-god/cougar reputation on campus. An equally-entertaining cameo from Zac Efron as a free-living Buddhist type raised several smiles and I feel as though he is well on his way to shaking off the High School Musical stigma (and good on him for doing so).

Performances aside, the plot wasn't perfect, and an ill-judged romance between Jesse and a bookshop owner somewhat de-valued an ending which could have been so much more profound. Nevertheless, Radnor created several moments of dialogue about life which were so insightful and so on-the-mark that I almost forgave the weaknesses in plot. At one point, Jesse's bookshop love exclaims that she spends so much time reading about life in books that she doesn't get the time to experience life itself. In many ways. it's the same for this film. If you've got something to do, don't put it off in favour of watching Liberal Arts. But if you've a spare ninety minutes, it might just make you smile...

Clapperboard Rating: * * *