Director/writer Brian Crano has assembled an excellent cast. Permission has adults having adult conversations. We watch as two very different couples grapple with managing their relationships and the hardships that ensue when one person (or both) deviate from "the plan". Crano allows his characters to be smart, stupid, loving, selfish ... that is, real people. Rebecca Hall steals the show and yet her character is perhaps the least likable of them all. After seeing her here, I will watch her in anything. A scene late in the movie is as real as life and as such is tender, wrenching, and beautiful. So, why only 5 stars? All of these great parts do not add up in the end. The middle of the film lags. As great as the acting may be, I didn't believe the ending. Crano works with his actors and creates great moments. The culmination of those moments, while clearly articulated in the film, seemed trite at worst and less than satisfying at best. Normally such an ending would result in less than 5 / 10 from me (starting from a pass/fail scale). Yet, the greatly crafted scenes and great ensemble acting make Permission worth recommending.
