Exam break is a great time to binge watch some Netflix if you aren’t writing any diplomas, but sometimes it’s not too easy to find something worthwhile to watch. I recently discovered the wonderful movie that is Liberal Arts. It is an independent Rom-Com starring Elizabeth Olsen and Josh Radnor, and a great way to spend your afternoon.
The movie is about a middle aged man named Jesse, who returns to his Ohio college to attend a professor’s retirement party. At said party, he manages to fall for a student named Zibby. Liberal Arts is a fairly straightforward movie that deals with growing up and comes with a few laughs and cute moments. With a 16 year age difference between the characters, it would have been easy to unintentionally give off the wrong impression and make the movie seem more creepy than anything, but the balance between Zibby’s maturity and youthfulness, multiple love interests, and the other themes dropped throughout the film make it just right.
Although there is definitely a romantic aspect to the film, it is not the only theme in the movie. Liberal Arts also draws attention other things such as the anxiety and depression that can come with transitioning from child to adult by showcasing a college student named Dean who battles with mental illness. The movie is quirky, but at the same time, very realistic and relatable; something I find important in a film. My only complaints about this movie are that Elizabeth Olsen’s acting was at times sub par, and I wish there were a few more jokes. Other than that, I easily say that I enjoyed this movie!
