When 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between t... Read allWhen 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them.When 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them.
- Awards
- 7 nominations
Chelsea Chrostowski
- Smiling Passerby Woman
- (uncredited)
Richard Doone
- Man in Bookstore Line
- (uncredited)
Caroline Lindy
- Hostess
- (uncredited)
Travis Alan McAfee
- Laundromat Thief
- (uncredited)
Andrea R. Perry
- Background College Student
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilmed mostly at Josh Radnor's alma mater Kenyon College, a small liberal arts school located in Gambier, Ohio. Allison Janney was a student there.
- GoofsWhen Dean calls Jesse he identifies himself as the person who reads "Franzen," referring to the book he is always carrying, an author that both he and Jesse enjoy. But, in the hospital scene, the author of the same book is clearly Foster Wallace, that is not mentioned except to say that he killed himself. Franzen is alive and well.
- Quotes
Prof. Peter Hoberg: Any place you don't leave is a prison.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.203 (2011)
Featured review
Intelligent & Warm Hearted Comedy
I liked this warm hearted and intelligent comedy, written and directed by Josh Radnor, a lot more than his first film "Happythankyoumoreplease'.
Radnor also stars in the movie as Jesse Fisher, a 35 year old well read nice guy working as an admissions interviewer at a New York City college. He receives a call from his favorite former college professor, portrayed by the skilled veteran actor Richard Jenkins. Jenkins asks him if he can come to Ohio to attend his retirement party at his university, where he's stepping down after 37 years of teaching.
Radnor accepts and while there meets Zibby, played by the superbly talented Elizabeth Olsen. She's 19 years old and a student there, as well as the daughter of friends of Jenkins. They're attracted to each other but Radnor hesitates at starting a relationship with her due to the age difference.
Subsequently, what happens between them takes some unexpected twists and turns. I'll leave that to the viewer to see what happens.
There are some wonderful supporting performances as well. Allison Janney is a hoot as a jaded imperious former English Romantics professor of Radnor's. Zac Efron, in a small but important role, plays a Zen-like philosopher who proffers up some interesting advice. Plus, Elizabeth Reaser adds well to the mix as a bookstore employee who may be a potential love interest for Radnor.
All in all, not everything works in the film, sometimes going off the rails, but overall I enjoyed this quirky, intelligent comedy whose genre seems to be getting rarer and rarer in today's films.
Radnor also stars in the movie as Jesse Fisher, a 35 year old well read nice guy working as an admissions interviewer at a New York City college. He receives a call from his favorite former college professor, portrayed by the skilled veteran actor Richard Jenkins. Jenkins asks him if he can come to Ohio to attend his retirement party at his university, where he's stepping down after 37 years of teaching.
Radnor accepts and while there meets Zibby, played by the superbly talented Elizabeth Olsen. She's 19 years old and a student there, as well as the daughter of friends of Jenkins. They're attracted to each other but Radnor hesitates at starting a relationship with her due to the age difference.
Subsequently, what happens between them takes some unexpected twists and turns. I'll leave that to the viewer to see what happens.
There are some wonderful supporting performances as well. Allison Janney is a hoot as a jaded imperious former English Romantics professor of Radnor's. Zac Efron, in a small but important role, plays a Zen-like philosopher who proffers up some interesting advice. Plus, Elizabeth Reaser adds well to the mix as a bookstore employee who may be a potential love interest for Radnor.
All in all, not everything works in the film, sometimes going off the rails, but overall I enjoyed this quirky, intelligent comedy whose genre seems to be getting rarer and rarer in today's films.
helpful•146
- larrys3
- Feb 7, 2013
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $327,345
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $27,435
- Sep 16, 2012
- Gross worldwide
- $1,150,681
- Runtime1 hour 37 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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