don't let the snarky comments put you off

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2008)

This is a great film -- the few negative IMDb comments were a surprise. I think the positive buzz seems to have combined with its sarcastic dialog and indie-like offbeat tone to really agitate some of the hipsters posting here. "It looks like an indie but it isn't independent enough!" "All of the wit is so scathing that it doesn't sound real!" "If everyone likes something it must be bad!" "We are independent film hipsters and we are threatened!" However I went to the film without hearing anything about it first, and luckily it didn't occur to me to think too hard about its studio status. So I loved it. The real gem is that at first it feels like a plastic sort of movie, but it tricks you. It "outgrows its own mannerisms" as A. O. Scott wrote in the NYT review. That's a nice turn of phrase. All of the characters develop a surprising depth.
For the criticisms: When I want to watch a good film, why would I care how independent it is? When has realism in dialog ever been the crucible in which we test a film? Why would I object to a film that references pop culture A LOT? It is true that some parts were not cast with brilliant character actors -- there is not much of a detectable difference between Ellen Page and Michael Cera when they are in interviews (or in Superbad) vs. "acting" in this film. But other parts ARE filled with excellent character actors (like Allison Janney) and the whole ensemble works brilliantly.
It's funny, clever, touching, complex, and the best film of 2007.