Phony

J.D. Salinger’s beloved The Catcher in the Rye is a deeply cynical piece of literature, something that’s often forgotten by those who look back upon it with rose-colored glasses. It holds contempt for those who see life through unsuspecting optimism and misaligned hope. It looks down upon those who refuse to accept life as anything other than miserable and unforgiving. Its sincerity is guided by distrust in others and it spits in the face of affection and benevolence. With that in mind, it likely wouldn’t be chummy with something like Coming Through the Rye, an earnest, sympathetic and ultimately misguided coming-of-age drama heavily influenced by Salinger and his acclaimed novel. Safe and friendly in all the ways the book that inspired it was unconventional and controversial, it fails to capture Salinger’s honest spirit, resulting in a bland, formulaic if deeply felt look at social alienation, teen angst and self discovery. It might mean well, but man, it sure is phony. http://www.cutprintfilm.com/reviews/coming-through-the-rye/