Maybe it's because I see a lot of similarities in this movie and the squid and the whale that I "get it". Yeah, it's kind of day in the life and yeah, the main characters aren't very likable but that's kinda the point. Personally I didn't like a single person in this movie. The question is, were you supposed to like them? I don't necessarily think so. I think the mom was overbearing. She reminds me of my mother. She works at a school with autistic / deaf kids. She gets too involved and often gets put in her place by those above her and then gets depressed saying if they'd just let her do her thing the kid would be much better off. Not her place to do it. As for the kid... kids are going to be kids. He's an idiot because he lacks life experience and that's ok. He has worked hard toward his own goals and when others around him aren't terribly impressed by his accomplishments he's sort of floundering and looking for ways to cross over. He realizes a love interest is political so, naturally, now he is going to be. This is being a kid and it's ok. To summarize this movie had two lessons; one person cannot save the world and to know your place in it. The other is a bit more complicated, maybe something like be yourself or realize not being yourself can be very easily spotted and embarrassing. Props to Jesse for this. It wasn't mind blowing but it was quite good.
Review of When You Finish Saving the World
