Greta Gerwig is hot as a pistol right now. After making a splash in Noah Baumbach‘s terrific comedy, “Greenberg,” she’s gotten roles with Woody Allen and Whit Stillman. At Tuesday night’s premiere of Stillman’s wonderful “Damsels in Distress,” Greta was accompanied by Baumbach–pretty nice since he’s already directed her. Greta and her pals play college chums in the very stylised “Damsels”–an arch, tongue in cheek send up of fast talking kids who just a little “off.” At one point they all perform a very preppy, peppy musical number of “Things Are Looking Up.” Greta’s character runs the college’s Suicide Prevention Center, but of course soon she becomes depressed over the loss of a bonehead boyfriend. I loved this movie. Adam Brody–ex of “The O.C.” and due to break out big time is just great as a student posing as a young businessman–with plenty of secrets and lies. The whole cast is delightful, and the movie is charming, light, fun, engaging, smart. Like Stillman’s famous “Metropolitan,” it’s a real New York movie, too, even though it’s set in the country. Gerwig is luminous. I also really liked Megalyn Echikunwoke as a poseur faux British accented co-ed– she almost steals the movie. And Billy Magnussen is a hoot as a kid learning his colors. Randall Poster did his usual great job with the music selection.
PS Taylor Nichols from “Metropolitan” and “Barcelona” makes a cameo. Where is Chris Eigemann? He acts and directs all the time. But Ed Clements, who played Tom–the outsider from the Upper West Side in “Metropolitan”–is involved in Youth ministries in Toronto and retired from show biz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6uBlj1OBZg&feature=related
