Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Nicholas D'Agosto | ... | ||
Anna Kendrick | ... | ||
Utkarsh Ambudkar | ... |
Ram
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Candace Hammer | ... |
Townsend Prep Debater
(as Candace Burr Scholz)
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Margo Martindale | ... |
Coach Lumbly
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Reece Thompson | ... |
Hal Hefner
(as Reece Daniel Thompson)
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Vincent Piazza | ... | ||
Denis O'Hare | ... |
Doyle Hefner
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Lisbeth Bartlett | ... | ||
Aaron Yoo | ... | ||
Virginia House | ... |
English Teacher
(as Virginia Frank)
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Marilyn Yoblick | ... | ||
Maury Ginsberg | ... |
Mr. Lewinsky
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Emily Ginnona | ... |
Honoria
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Dionne Audain | ... |
Abraham Lincoln
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Coming of age in Plainsboro, New Jersey. High school student Hal Hefner stutters. On the evening his parents stop arguing and separate, 43 miles away at the state tournament, his school's legendary debater, Ben Wekselbaum, goes blank mid-sentence, Ben's teammate Ginny Ryerson doesn't get a first-place trophy, and the world changes. That fall, to Hal's amazement, Ginny recruits him for the debate team, mentors him, and will be his partner. He still has his stutter, but he works hard and he falls in love with Ginny. On the day of the first debate of the season, the world changes again. From then until the day of the state tournament, Hal has a lot to sort out. Is love rocket science? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
On the brink of exhaustion after a week at Sundance, I sat down in a comfy plush seat in a theater that was not really a theater, but rather a library converted into a theater. Between the habitual midnight showing and average three movie viewing a day, I had fallen asleep in the last two, (Trust me, I did everything in the book to try and keep myself conscious) and thought this would be the third as I began to slouch down in this sumptuousness of a chair, but suddenly, the catchy music, witty dialog, and stimulating visuals had enlivened me. I was literally on the edge of my seat, hanging on to every word Hal Hefner uttered. It was remarkably fresh, continuously entertaining, and even profoundly deep. But in a good way. Which is quite rare not only in movies, but in life really. It made teenage angst and the mid-life crisis a little lighter, even hilarious. And who would think either would be funny. Anyways, this is quite a memorable tale, leaving you with a feeling of infinity, and the wisdom of approaching the serious things with a bit of humor.