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Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards ... see more see more... , Jarleth Conroy , Ann Dowd , Marcus Carl Franklin , Sasha Spielberg , Rita Wilson , Blair Underwood , Alicia Silverstone , Sophie Curtis , Andrew Levitas , Dan Leonard , Maya Ri Sanchez , Ann Harada

The Art of Getting By stars Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who's made it all the way to his senior year without ever ha... read more read more...ving done a real day of work, who is befriended by Sally (Emma Roberts - Scream 4), a beautiful and complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit. -- (C) Fox Searchlight

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47% liked it

9,534 ratings

Critics

17% liked it

105 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 24 min.

Directed by: Gavin Wiesen

Release Date: June 17, 2011

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DVD Release Date: November 29, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (464)

  • LWOODS04
    January 12, 2012
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards, Rita Wilson, Alicia Silverstone, Blair Underwood, Sasha Spielberg

    Director: Gavin Wiesen

    Summary: Freddie Highmore stars in this romance tale as a teenage rebel with no time for textboo... read moreks, but when he's given a glimmer of friendship with longtime crush Sally Howe, the trench-coated loner discovers that some feelings aren't too trite to explore.

    My Thoughts: "A dark, moody, brooding, teenage romance flick. It wasn't great but not awful either. Freddie Highmore does a great job as well as Emma Roberts. Some of it was a bit unrealistic but what's not in films. Perhaps better or more character development could have helped this film come along a bit better. But as it is, it wasn't a bad watch."
  • PedroPauloA
    December 11, 2011
    PedroPauloA
    The toughest lesson is love.

    Get away

    This is a lame, with really bad acting, and a ,horrible story line. In this slow, and pointless movie you will not have any fun, so get away from it.

    It tells the story of this annoying teenager Geroge (Highmore... read more) who claims he is depressed and never does any homework, but then he falls in love with Sally (Roberts) and she makes him do his homework.

    I mean really, the story of this movie is just ridiculous. It could have some potential, but the actors in this movie are just crap. Emma Roberts isn't bad, but Freddie Highmore, and Michael Angarano are so annoying on screen.

    The only worthwhile thing in this movie is the soundtrack, that includes some Belle & Sebastian, and maybe the photography and some pretty cool shots. But either than that its a lame movie, with annoying characters, it's just bad.

    Harris McElroy: "You're going to have to start using that brain of yours to access that talent of yours to show that beautiful heart of yours. "
  • fb1038944442
    December 2, 2011
    fb1038944442
    The Art of Getting By is an annoying coming of age flick, starring a character who no one will like, who is morose from top to bottom, and will evoke no sympathy from most viewers. The script is weak and regurgitates pieces from many other coming of age flicks, from The Graduate ... read moreto John Hughes to The Social Network.
    The story concerns a brilliant, disaffected art genius who is unmotivated in school and has no friends. Most of the movie takes place in the Manhattan school the kid is flunking out of. His mother and budding girlfriend are concerned about him. That's all the plot detail you need to know.

    Young English acting prodigy Freddie Highmore choses one moping, disaffected note and hammers it to death for the duration of the film. He's great in all his other films, but maybe adult life is not agreeing with his acting muse. As the love interest, Emma Roberts has a limited range, and though she's cute to look at, she doesn't have acting range like other peers, like Emma Stone or Cary Mulligan.

    However, the film falls down with its cliched script and tepid predictability. The supporting performances by Rita Wilson, Alicia Silverstone and Blair Underwood outshine the leads, which is not a good thing.On the plus side, nice Manhattan locations and lovely, obvious folk tunes on the sound track from the likes of Leonard Cohen. Unless you are writing a PHD thesis about coming of age flicks, don't bother.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    November 25, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    The toughest lesson is love.

    I liked it. Of course it doesn't have great acting or terrific actors but the story was catchy and it blended in slowly. Emma Roberts continues to improve little by little on her acting career although she still has a long way to go. Freddie Highmore... read more probably didn't do his best work here but it's nice to see him back in a movie. Enjoy.

    Quote that you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion, George doesn't see the point of life, school, or homework. Then he meets Sally and he now has a reason to go to school and make friends, even if he's not ready to admit to himself or to her that he likes her. The school's principal and art teacher introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin, who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school.
  • fb100001050230219
    September 2, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    The performances in Gavin Wiesen's coming-of-age dramedy are solid. Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts and also Michael Angarano do a very good job with their roles. Emma Roberts' character is also pretty likeable, the problem is that, despite Highmore's best efforts, the main protag... read moreonist, George, isn't that interesting. That can be said for ''The Art of Getting By'' as a whole. The dialogue is bland, the story is cliched and the main protagonist is uninteresting and at times unlikeable. It has a couple of sweet moments, but this is just your standard indie coming-of-age film that proves very forgettable.
  • neverteaseaweasel
    July 8, 2011
    neverteaseaweasel
    I watched this opening weekend, which I realize was a while ago now, but I kind of forgot about even going to this film. It the type of movie that you're never going to be totally sure as to if you have seen it or not; it's going to seem vaguely familiar either way. It does what ... read moreit does; there really isn't all that much to it. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable, pleasant film; it's just kind of mediocre. Yes it evokes every young adult novel you've ever read and every teen sundance film you've ever seen, but that doesn't really bother me much. I enjoy the trappings of indie films. The Art of Getting By may not really contribute anything new, but it garbles enough things that have worked in other films together so that it really isn't bad. It's entertainly forgettable. I wouldn't seek it out again, but it was a decent enough way to pass the time.
  • ythelastman89
    June 23, 2011
    ythelastman89
    I'm sure a lot of people could care less about this movie and its characters, but I really had a great connection with it. I think it has a lot to say and really breaks free from just telling a story about another slacker. Freddie Highmore has shifted promoted himself from being ... read morethe greatest child superstar to the greatest teen superstar. He plays emotions like a fiddle and gives a performance that is completely natural and true to the character. He's shy and naive, but at the same time he knows more than everyone else and just hates the idea of it. I thought it was interesting to have a character that wants to want to care, but doesn't know how. I also thought Emma Roberts did a great job and it's probably the best performance she's given so far. In many ways she's the high school crush that a lot of people had, but not in a glamorized way. She has flaws and weaknesses that are apparent throughout the movie. I'm not going to claim that The Art of Getting By doesn't follow a pattern of angsty teen dramas, but its execution and core is definitely unique. What it says within the formula is so honest and unattractive at times that it really just feels like we're seeing two people's lives and not just a movie. The way it's shot definitely helps out with this. You get a really life-like visual structure that doesn't just simply look good, it makes sense. The job was to center around the characters and this definitely succeeds in doing so. Now i'm sure this will be thrown into the typical indie teen movie that it was disguised as, but it really doesn't have any of those odd cliches. There's no penciled in credits, no overly quirky and weird moments, no exaggeration and no overbearing philosophical meaning. This movie is completely fine with being "normal", and I mean that in the best way possible.
  • stevenecarrier
    June 19, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    "The Art of Getting By" knows exactly what it wants to be. It wholeheartedly embraces it's 'hipster' attitude. The narrative is light and brisk but the themes and character development are a lot more honest than you might initially expect. The performances by Freddie Highmore and... read more Emma Roberts, like the film itself, are charming and serviceable. These are two young actors whom certainly need to grow but are well on their way. Roberts is such a lovely presence that you simply just overlook the bumpy parts of her performance. Highmore connects when it's most important which also helps ease the questionable moments. The cinematography and soundtrack add much in the way of emotional connection and help keep the film alive and moving. "The Art of Getting By" is without a doubt an 'indie' film but it's ultimately worth your time for it's overall message, it's likable leads, and it's sensitive treatment of the confusion of adapting to 'the real world.'
  • fb100000440772572
    December 31, 2011
    fb100000440772572
    Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts deliver an interesting and somewhat unconventional romantic drama. The Art of Getting By is a character piece about two misfit high school students looking for deeper meaning, each in their own way, and eventually finding a kindred spirit in eac... read moreh over. Both Highmore and Roberts give good performances and have a solid onscreen chemistry that gets the audience invested in their characters. However, there are a few side-plots being juggled that gum up the works and breaks down the flow of the film. Yet, The Art of Getting By gets by all the distractions and gives a sincere story about the struggle of adolescents and finding a way in the world.
  • crazydannielle16
    February 2, 2012
    crazydannielle16
    This is an indie film so people might not like it but I found it to be intriguing and heartwarming with a lot of good things to say about humanity.It's a charming story about adolescents finding themselves in the world.

    George realizes one day that he's going to die and he slips... read more into a downward spiral of depression as he ponder the meaning of his existance and what he should do with the rest of his time on earth. Schoolwork seems meaningless and he finds it difficult to motivate himself to do it, even though he is brilliant, talented, and more than capable. He befriends Sally and eventually falls in love with her.

    I greatly identified with George's character. I felt so much in common with him and felt that if he were a real person, we'd be great friends. Freddie Highmore proves to transition beautifully from a child superstar into a talented adult actor. I always knew he would go on to great things. I can't wait to see what he does next.

    The movie doesn't have a lot of action, it's mostly about relationships, and that's fine with me.

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Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey
June 17, 2011
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The vapidity of The Art of Getting By goes beyond the anthill-sized dramatic stakes. The dialogue, while occasionally epigrammatic, is tone-deaf to individual speech rhythms. Full Review

Tom Long
June 17, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

The Art of Getting By wants to be sweet and insightful, but ends up scattered and slight. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
June 17, 2011
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

A dull yet extremely self-important drama about rich, badly parented kids who feel sorry for themselves. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
June 17, 2011
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

For anyone not in a similar state of age-related solipsism - i.e., anyone outside the 16- to 25-year-old age bracket - this is more than a little annoying. Full Review

Joe Neumaier
June 17, 2011
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

There are several lessons to be learned in "The Art of Getting By," though all arrive too late to save this well-meaning but dreadfully executed movie. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
June 17, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

You wouldn't surf past "Say Anything" to find it, but "Art" is a decent-enough entry in an overcrowded genre. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
June 17, 2011
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

A half-baked little movie that proves indies can be every bit as boringly formulaic and artistically bankrupt as their big-budget brethren. Full Review

Claudia Puig
June 16, 2011
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Though it doesn't fully resonate as a romance, it is effective as a character study. Full Review

Robert Abele
June 16, 2011
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times

A charm-free wisp of a movie about that most annoying of recent archetypes: the mopey, privileged adolescent. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
June 16, 2011
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Even slumped over Camus, Highmore's a charmer -- and he carries the movie well on his slim shoulders. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Sally Howe: Do you have any friends, George?
    • George Zinavoy: I'm kind of a misanthrope. Not a choice, just a fact.
    • Ms. Herman: Happiness is something that has to be looked after, something you have to be vigilant about.
    • Sally Howe: You told him we weren't together.
    • George Zinavoy: What should I have said?
    • Sally Howe: What did you want to say?
    • George Zinavoy: We live alone, we die alone, everything else is just an illusion.
    • Sally Howe: I have fears but I thought they were pretty run-of-the-mill: pain, death.
    • George Zinavoy: Not me. I fear life.
    • George Zinavoy: You treacherous, sadistic little hussy.
Submit a Fact | View All

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