Is it because he is sad and lonely and insecure and age obsessed and lost and pushing 40? Because that's exactly as he is portrayed in the trailer.
I don't know any hot college girl who would be attracted to the likes of him.
Yes it is. The film thinks Radnor's character is likeable but that's only because Radnor wrote it. There is actually a moment when Zac Efron's character asks "Why do I like this guy so much?" (a good question) only to be answered with "He's likeable." Thus convincing the audience that he is a likeable character without actually being one... I really didn't like this movie.
If your life had a face I would punch it!
Completely agree. Didn't warm to Josh Radnor's character at all. Extremely annoying to watch. Made buying into the whole Jesse/Zibby relationship all but impossible. Actually it made buying into anything that happened in this movie almost impossible.
Didn't even realise Radnor wrote and directed the movie, but now that I do, it actually explains a lot as to why this movie didn't work for me. Radnor clearly lost objectively writing this early on, and with no one to step in and say "Hey, this is idiotic", the movie fell flat on its face.
If you ask me, Radnor should stick to one job when making a movie. He's not insightful or talented enough to do it all at once.
If she was 23 or older and out of college.....i think it would have worked, but 19 is pushing it.
shareBefore I answer your question, I have one of my own.
Are you asking because you saw only the trailer and not the film itself?
Jules Winnfield: "I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?"
I have not seen the movie, but i wonder from reading about it why do we need to know this. Some women do not choose men for there looks or how hot the media makes them out to be. This is what worked in old movies without every saying he is to old for her or she needs someone her own age.
Some women just like older men for what they are, plain and simple and why should so many people get involved of the reason why.
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The 'love story' is the weakest element of this otherwise enjoyable little film. Elizabeth Olsen's character pretty much throws herself at him without a second thought or action on his behalf. And not in the "she just wants to sleep with him" way. No, we're talking the "she's highly mature, adult, cute as a button & a virgin who has held herself for this moment!" The character is very 'manic pixie girl' straight down to her 'I'll randomly drink this stranger's coffee" & the rather awful "we need to hug" moment. Olsen brings a great deal of life into her non-character.
AS for why women want to sleep with Radnor's character? It's because he wrote the movie. Every female character - and I do mean EVERY female character - either sleeps with, pines over, or wants to sleep with Radnor.
It's a fun film. Richard Jenkins is, of course, the best thing in it.
There. It's on the Internet. Thus it's official
OneFilmLover, what did you think of Zac Efron's performance? I loved it, it's totally different from anything else he has done. I really liked the movie also.
I love the scene where Richard Jenkins character talks about still feeling like he was 19. That is something many of us can identify with.
The RIchard Jenkins' character was wasted. I wish he had a chance to spend more time explaining why he felt so ambiguous about leaving his job. Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of new retirees have "buyer's remorse" days, weeks, months into their retirement but to beg for his old job back seems out of character. And if the writer is going to introduce such a plot point, develop it to make sense within the context of the story.
shareApparently they've found that most people's mental image of themselves stays at about 22 years old for the rest of their lives. Not that they're not fully aware that they're older, or that they won't change and mature a great deal, but they still have this idea in their heads of being that age. I find that fascinating. You do hear a lot of even very old people say that they don't 'feel' old mentally. I guess there are some surprisingly positive things about the way our minds are organized, alongside all the crap.Forever young indeed!
Kaiser
I believe this is explained in the movie. I believe she made a comment that guys in college were too interested in partying, or something along those lines. She is attracted to him because he is intelligent, thoughtful, and poetic. Anyway, regardless of their initial attraction (which was probably somewhat based on physical attraction), it's clear that the relationship grew while she was in Ohio and he was in NYC, and they wrote some wonderful letters to each other about books and classical music.
I also don't believe that Josh's character is sad, lonely, insecure, or age-obsessed. I think he misses the feelings he had as an undergrad, when the future was full of mystery and potential. Also, I think he loved being in the company of people whose primary objective in life is to discuss literature and share their love of the arts.
I relate to those feelings, and in fact went to grad school for similar reasons.
Nick: Nice post.
shareJesse has a big heart. He actually takes an airplane to visit a college student who's attempted suicide, and he saves the guy's life. He's interested in other people, and he's a good listener and a compassionate person.
Plus, he actually reads books. There have to be people who find this appealing.
Jrhpax: Good points!
shareUh..maybe because he's a really nice looking guy that's also personable and interesting and pretty thoughtful?
Actually I didn't realize who he was. I never watch network tv...but I was thinking he should abandon those sitcoms and make more movies.
He is very likable.
I think they mostly connected on an intellectual stimuli level. But they connected. She was not your stereotypical image of the "college babe" and he was not your typical literary intellectual. They just enjoyed each others company.
You could just as easily ask what did he see in her.
I don't think it's so far fetched to see them together..the age gap doesn't appear that large just by looking at them. But considering that they're at crucially different points in their lives would create later troubles. And he was the first to "get that".
I think you nailed it. It's easy to try to explain it by saying she may have had daddy issues, or that the writer was appealing to the wish-fulfillment of 40-something male viewers, but anyone who's ever been in a long relationship realizes attraction and love are funny things that you can't really account for. I don't think the OP has been in that situation before perhaps, thinking that physicality is the beginning and end of what drives attraction.
shareAs a girl who just graduated college, I can tell you I would find Josh Radnor's character very appealing. Girls love older guys, and he's a very good looking older guy. But besides the looks part, it's very rare and refreshing to find a guy in college who can hold a conversation about anything other than partying and sports, not to mention a guy who isn't surrounded by a pack of other "bros" at all times.
shareIs it because he is sad and lonely and insecure and age obsessed and lost and pushing 40?