Just Looking

I stumbled upon this film on IFC, had nothing better to do, so I sat & watched. I found myself thoroughly enjoying this movie! The kids are real kids, speaking the way kids speak. Ryan Merriman plays Lenny so well, and I loved Amy Braverman's Alice character. I felt, watching her, like I was watching myself at that age, and was rooting for her & Lenny to kiss...and was not disappointed! Catch it if you can!

Just saw this at a film festival, and it was one of the highlights of my weekend. This was a sweet, funny, sometimes touching film, well directed by Seinfeld vet Alexander. The story deals with a sex-starved 14-year old boy. But since it's set in 1955 and not 1999, all he wants is to see two people in the act. He thinks his plans are dashed when his widowed mother (Patti LuPone) and her new husband send him from the Bronx to his Aunt and Uncle's in the country (Queens). He lucks out to find a bra model (Gretchen Mol) living on his block. I won't give away the rest, but Ryan Merriman as the boy was great. When this opens, as it certainly should, get right out to it. It's the kind of film they just don't make enough of.

Although there have been countless films on teenage yearnings and lust, occasionally a little gem crops up. Just Looking is one such film, a gentle but frank script with the occasional comic one liners thrown in is a harmless and entertaining film with a feel good ending.

I truly wish I could have seen this movie a couple of years ago, I probably would have enjoyed it even more then. But still, at the age of 20 I find it to be very amusing and entertaining. It's one of those growing up movies you liked when you were 10, but is still great when you watch it as an adult. The story is funny and the characters evenly so, and the good acting is what binds this movie together. Jason Alexander shows us he is not only one of the funniest actors around, he can also direct, and as far as this movie is concerned he does it surprisingly well.

A bit of nostalgia I suppose. 7/10

Alexander and Karp hit a home run with this sweetly sentimental little slice-of-life flick about a Bronx boy in the 50's when his hormones have kicked in and he finds himself preoccupied with sex. Merriman makes a solid centerpiece among some fine character actors and the much under-rated Gretchen Mol as our little hero learns lessons about life, love and...yeah, sex too. A cute, fun, and earnest little romp for anyone who can harken back to when sex was just one big question mark.