A Little White Lie movie review

IN A NUTSHELL:

The original title for this movie was “Shriver.”

When a handyman living in New York City is mistaken for a famous and famously reclusive writer, he’s brought to a university where he is to deliver a keynote address to save the school’s literary festival.

The movie was written and directed by Michael Maren. He heard Chris Belden read from his novel “Shriver” while in a bookstore in Massachusetts. Michael Mare was so excited about it that he immediately optioned the movie rights.

THINGS I LIKED:

• The fantastic cast includes Oscar-nominated Michael Shannon, Golden Globe winners Kate Hudson and Don Johnson, award-winners Zach Braff and Wendie Malick, Lincoln Shining Star award winner Aja Naomi King, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
• The university that’s featured in the movie is the real-life campus of the University of Redlands in California.
• I’m a university professor and could definitely relate to some of the frustrations and nuances that were illustrated by the various instructors in the story.
• If you are a lover of literature, you’ll get a kick out of this satire.
• The dialogue is entertaining and even insightful at times.
• As an author of 31 books (you can find them all on Amazon!), I really enjoyed this. All authors feel like imposters at one point. Imposter syndrome is real. We feel compelled to write yet are often shocked that anyone would really want to read what we have penned. Readers have no idea how important their book reviews are. We can fly for hours with a good review, and yet die a thousand deaths with a bad one. Please be kind when you write your reviews! And please leave some of my books a review! Thanks!
• I love that the movie kept me guessing and doubting myself as I tried to figure out who Michael Shannon’s real character was.
• The movie does a great job illustrating how we question our own identity and talents.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• With all that award-winning star power, the movie should be better than it is.
• For a movie about an incredible writer, the writing in the movie should have also been better than it was.
• So many awkward moments.
• Some critics have complained that the movie is messy and dull. I disagree. I really enjoyed it.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Kids will be bored because every scene is just adults talking.
• Some profanity, including an F-bomb.