Hollidaysburg (2014)

Excellent but underrated film

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This movie was good. It wasn't exactly great, but it had it's great moments. That being the casting, everyone in this movie assumes their roles well and have good chemistry with each other. The relationship between the loner Tori and the lost Scott while it takes a while to actually occur, is believable. At least to what the movie wants to serve, you aren't supposed to see these two together forever, but you are supposed to see them as a brief fling sort of relationship. One that will probably leave them in a close friendship rather than a romantic commitment. Each character is sort of unlikable in a very likable way. Tori is a bit whiny and cold but never to a point that it gets in the way. Scott has a charming arrogance, but knows when he goes too far. All the characters are like that, sort of how real people act, and it works in the films favor. If I said the film had a drawback it would be the flowing narrative. It takes a little too long for the couple to meet and even longer for the relationship to become believable. There are a few moments that feel a little too rushed, but the film as a whole is good. If you go into it expecting something spectacularly funny or amazingly deep, you might be disappointed depending on your standards. For my money though I'm glad I bought it.

So slow and pokey at the start that I thought I would fall asleep. Having watched "The Chair," I understood the test audience's confusion regarding the two lead female characters.But the film grew on me and I started to care what happened to folks. The emotions felt real and I have to admit, for a bit I wondered who would end up with who (even though the Hollywood rules of romantic comedies was followed in the end.Oh, loved the running scene. very funny and sweet.I understand how "Not Cool" won the competition. The other director's fans were always going to overwhelm this little movie. But honestly, it's not even close. This is good, but flawed movie. "Not Cool" was an occasionally funny gag reel.

I've been following the progress of this movie on "The Chair," read Dan Schoffer's original screenplay ("How Soon Is Now") before it was revised by the director, and was anxious to see the final product when it was shown on Starz. Of the two films shadowed in "The Chair," this one seemed the most promising, although Anna Martimucci's self-doubt was getting a little too much to bear. The prior IMDb reviews ranged from a "waste" to "awesome" -- but you never know where these reviews are coming from, pro or con. Nonetheless, my expectations were low when I sat down to watch.I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was uniformly excellent. The directing was smooth and, at times, subtle. I missed some of the story lines and characters from the original screenplay -- but found the Philip Quinaz character and his pumpkin pies (particularly the wonderful, unfolding pie panorama), and Brian Shoaf's Mitch, excellent additions. I can't say the same for Martimucci's own character. Anna should have stayed behind the camera. I know why her Courtney character was added (more on that later), but we didn't need her.But more than anything, I found "Hollidaysburg" real. The characters seemed real. The dialogue seemed real. The emotions seemed real. This is a millennials movie, trying to show Generation Y'ers as they are, not how Hollywood has depicted them. Whether it's accurate or not, I don't know -- but it sold me that it is. And I think that's why the Angela-Courtney relationship was added, to show the world that millennials don't bat an eye at same-sex relationships or same-sex marriage.What the movie lacks, in my view, is more story. These characters come home from college for the long Thanksgiving weekend and return Sunday basically unchanged. Is Tori really any different on Sunday than she was on Wednesday? Even the final voice-over, quoting John Updike, suggests that each day is a rebirth, and what's past (including the just-completed holiday) is dead. Then why should we care what we saw these people experience? In an effort to eschew a "Hollywood ending," we're left fairly unsatisfied.I felt like I witnessed a slice of these characters' lives. If, according to Hitchcock, "Drama is life with the dull bits cut out," then "Hollidaysburg" is life, dull bits and all.

Hollidaysburg is HILARIOUS, honest, and beautiful!! It has been a long time since I've seen a love story/coming of age movie this good. It is SO FUNNY and it has SO MUCH HEART. Exceptional storytelling and directing by Anna Martemucci, and superb breakout performances by a young cast of unknowns... soon to be KNOWNS! The acting is a real stand out in this film. Rachel Keller and Tobin Mitnik are stunningly comfortable performers, and bring such charm to this love story...that is truly funny throughout! Tristan Erwin and Claire Chipelli have an incredible ability to command an audience to go along with the subtle pointed performances they give. Phil Quinaz, who plays Mitnik's brother, is totally impressive in his handling of the comedy in this piece as is Brian Shoaf, who plays Chipelli's step-father. Shoaf has a moment in the movie that I was shout laughing ...but I'll let you watch it for yourself. These Actors!!! They are some of the best. I laughed and listened through the entire movie, which expertly takes an audience through the growing pains of young adult life, and let's us laugh the entire time, while really feeling for their stories. Martemucci's refreshing voice is balanced and uncynical, an updated John Hughes! It also... is beautifully shot, and you really get a sense of Pennsylvania and what is so charming about it! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!! WATCH IT EVERYONE!!!!!!!!