This is a charming film homage where exactly what you see unfold on screen is all at once hopeful, silly, funny and utterly romantic; it bears no special significance except one that we should all heed: stories that exclaim ’nuts to squirrels’ give us hope that the norms and standards of expectation can be turned on their head, no matter the circumstance, one can climb out to reach and realize a dream.

The film boasts an excellent cast where Bogdanovich obviously let his comedic and directorial instincts allow his performers the room to make us laugh. Most notably, performances by Jennifer Aniston as Jane, Kathryn Hahn as Delta, Rhys Infans as Seth who is an absolute sleaze, all delight. And Owen Wilson as Arnold does what he does best: the loveable, aw-shucks carefree and forgivable adolescent in a man’s body. And there are several cameos that will surprise as well as hilarious turns from Cybill Shepherd with Richard Lewis as Glo’s parents and Austin Pendleton as the Judge. But it is Imogen Poots as Glo that lights up the screen and anchors the film along with Owen Wilson’s Arnold. Poots is as photogenic as Scarlett Johannson but with all the vulnerability of an Audrey Hepburn.

When Bogdanovich was asked at the Venice presser what he thought of Hollywood at present, he wryly remarked, “I’m hesitant to bite the hand that doesn’t feed me”. All indications are that ’She’s Funny that Way’ will be immensely popular with audiences and may mark another success for a smaller, independent film.

Alfredo Romano