Despite stylish editing, lively performances and some effervescent dialogue, Skills Like This eventually becomes insipid, tedious, inane and a bit lackluster.
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03/21/09
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Skills Like This (2009)
58
%
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Reviews Counted:26
Fresh:15
Rotten:11
Average Rating:5.8/10
Consensus: Though Skills Like This has little to distinguish, director Monty Miranda shows flashes of wit and talent.
Theatrical Release:Mar 20, 2009 Limited
Synopsis: An indie festival-circuit favorite, SKILLS LIKE THIS follows struggling writer Max (Spencer Berger) into a life of crime. He finds robbery to be his true calling after his play, THE ONION DANCE,... [More]
Starring: Spencer Berger, Gabriel Tigerman, Brian D. Phelan, Kerry Knuppe
Director: Monty Miranda
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Reviews for Skills Like This
Adding to the glut of slacker-loser comedies, Skills Like This isn't particularly good or bad, just very average.
03/19/09
It almost works, too, though ultimately this visually splendid but sluggish story of a twentysomething would-be writer and his impulsive, overnight career as a bank and convenience-store robber takes the money and runs nowhere.
04/17/09
The film's portrait of bank-robbing as a solution to twentysomething aimlessness seems quaint when viewed through the filter of today's economic hardships.
03/16/09
The movie devolves into a series of increasingly pat, ill-thought-out setpieces, presided over by a hero who can’t really sell sincerity while he’s sporting three-day stubble and a massive jewfro.
03/19/09
This likable indie comedy fails to completely get off the ground.
03/20/09
Energetic if incoherent.
04/03/09
Top CriticA slick and clean cut piece of slacker comedy with great production and a fun sound track but sadly lacking in edginess.
03/29/09
Berger and director Monty Miranda would have been better off concentrating on the Max-Lucy love affair and Max's nonviolent, petty crimes instead of throwing in Max's two best buddies and their efforts to reinvent themselves.
03/20/09
Skills thinks it's far more magically whimsical than it really is.
03/17/09
Overall, it's less clever than [director] Miranda seems to think.
04/10/09
It works here, however, thanks largely to the strength of Berger’s performance and the way the movie’s familiar “follow your heart” message is diluted by a goofy subplot involving David trying to help Tom find gainful employment.
03/30/09
Berger appears to be a potential breakout talent, turning a character who could be endlessly irritating into an oddly charming, self-effacing rogue.
03/30/09
Top CriticIt'll be intriguing to see where Miranda goes from here.
05/08/09
A quirky little film that relies heavily on charm to make up for some rather glaring flaws in story, pacing and character. Fortunately, it has charm to spare.
04/01/09
Begins with an outrageous concept and takes it to the -- pun definitely intended -- max.
06/15/09
Skills Like This gazes indulgently on 20-something aimlessness and the comfort of assigned roles. In Mr. Miranda’s hands sloth can be more appealing than you might think.
03/20/09
Top CriticThe casting is unique, the acting able, and the camera work expert.
03/30/09
The movie is so well made that it’s hard not to like this often funny movie regardless whether one takes the story too seriously.
04/01/09
Monty Miranda’s fantasy for slackers sometimes slips into toilet-humor stupidity, but thanks to a knack for ingenious absurdity, Skills Like These is just ridiculous enough to be charming.
03/18/09
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