Liberal Arts

[d. b. wilyumz]

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"Liberal Arts"

Synopsis: An uninspired, drifting thirtysomething goes back to his college to bid farewell to a famous professor, only to meet, and fall for, a precocious young sophomore.

What You Need To Know: As the star of hit sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," Josh Radnor was always going to have the shadow of Zach Braff and "Garden State" hanging over his directorial debut "happythankyoumoreplease." While that film had its share of issues, he's already beaten Braff by getting his second film under his belt only two years after the first. And Radnor's been smart enough to cast last year's Sundance breakout Elizabeth Olsen opposite himself (well, wouldn't you?) in what seems to be a more focused picture than his uneven debut, something that bodes well. Plus, alongside Olsen, he's assembled an intriguing supporting cast, including "Young Adult"'s Elizabeth Reaser, an indie debut from Zac Efron*, and, as professors, Allison Janney and Richard Jenkins, two actors scientifically proven to make any film they're in 20% better. Each. We're a little wary of this being an ego-trip, but it seems like it'll be worth seeing purely for the cast.

When? Sundance - 22nd & 23rd (Park City), 27th (Ogden), 28th (SLC).

* Wrong about that - Me & Orson Welles was Zac's "indie debut"