At Middleton (2014)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Absolutely brilliant

A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Adam Rogers's "At Middleton" (otherwise "Just One Day") tries to encapsulate - and build on - the feelings people have when their kids (in this case only children of 2 marriages) go on/off to university. Since a great many of us know that feeling, and all its emotional, practical and financial (!) nuances, there is a ready-made audience out there somewhere for Edith Martin taking daughter Audrey, and for George Hartman taking son Conrad, to a chocolate-box-looking place of learning (easy enough on the eye, certainly) but trying vaguely to make out it's Ivy League-ish, when actually it's far from it. If you're feeling the symmetry in the above description, you may not be surprised to learn that it's writ large in the film, given that Conrad (a competent-enough Spencer Lofranco) is the rather non-academic though likeable-enough son of a rather stiff and intense (heart-surgeon) father - played by Andy Garcia; while Audrey (an OK Taissa Farmiga) is the driven, bright, tetchy and intellectual daughter of a slightly off-the-rails and a little bit too uninihibited mother (Vera Farmiga - yes (and no) - this actress is the SISTER in real life).If you go on to imagine that the kids are going to help each other out, well that's so only partly; while if you think that George will help Edith get serious, while Edith assists George in lightening up, well you'd be more correct, but in fact this pair are both going to end up experiencing both bliss and extreme heartache in the course of "Just One Day".A big part of any enjoyment you're going to extract from this therefore lies in the plausibility of a romance that can grow in literally the space of hours. On the other hand, this may be a romance waiting to happen, propelled along by desperation (and the aforesaid emotions of that unique "kids leave the nest" moment), all the more so given that both George and Edith are only now really admitting to themselves that they are not happy in their marriages, and are not far from a conviction that they might actaully have wasted - or underlived - a major chunk of their lives.Those who have been through a bit of life are going to see that there is some mileage in this story. The young-cum-old and handsome/ordinary Garcia - whose input into this film goes beyond acting - has the potential to carry this off, while Vera Farmiga (rightly) looks a bit careworn by everything, but has a certain grace, and indeed a coquettish attractiveness she seems able to switch on and off as the mood takes her. They make a pretty enough couple, and at their most intensive moments (of which there are several) they are able to convince and even move us. Unfortunately, however, the makers' desire to persuade us that there are funny and even slapstick moments in all of this largely fail, and occasionally fall flat on their faces. This is not merely the case for the stars either - several other characters seem to switch from serious to silly to standup and back again in the space of a few lines, and this is jarringly non-cohesive.However, we out here in audience-land can "piece out their imperfections with our thoughts" if we so choose, I guess. (Though one is entitled to ask why we should have to do that!) And in so doing, we might put ourselves in the situation of attractive but somewhat subdued people who realise the wonderful time they might have together, but have only the briefest of brief encounters in which to experience that. Nobody who is not made of stone can ignore that entirely, though my choice of terms in the last sentence is of course non-random, and we have seen the odd (better) film resembling "At Middleton" before now. Anyway, if you've really got a spare 90 minutes or so, this film has a few better and more meaningful moments that it might be worth keeping faith for...

In its home territory of the United States, this movie is called "At Middleton" since it is located at a college called Middleton, but this is a singularly unhelpful title and around the world there have been many variations. In the UK, where I viewed it, it is called "Just One Day" which has the benefit of telling the potential viewer something relevant. So, by now, you'll have worked out that all the film is located in one place and over one day. Although the purpose of the visit is to enable two youngsters to assess whether they wish to study at this particular college, the core of the story is about their parents played by Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga who soon give up on their kids and the official tour and make their own explorations of both the grounds and their emotions. It's kind of updated version of the classic British film "Brief Encounter" (1945).It's an episodic movie with a lot of humour and some pathos but some scenes work better than others. The cleverest scene is when the two adults find themselves required to participate in an improvisation acting class. The silliest is when they get high on a marijuana bong. What makes the work rather charming is the warmth of the two leads. Garcia never seems to have quite fulfilled the early potential shown as long ago as 1987 in "The Untouchables" and has put on a bit of weight since, but he is still a fine actor. The much younger Vera Farmiga - there is a 17 year age difference between the pair - first came to my attention in "Up In The Air (2009) and to my mind is still not fully appreciated for her talent and rare beauty (those blue eyes). Incidentally this movie is a bit of a family affair with Garcia's daughter playing a minor role and Farmiga's sister filling the role of her daughter.

At Middleton, also known as Just One Day is a light romantic film about two mismatched people who meet in a college campus open day.Edith (Vera Farmiga) a free spirit and George (Andy Garcia) an uptight bow tie wearing cardiac surgeon meet while taking their children, Audrey (Taissa Farmiga) and Conrad (Spencer Lofranco) around the campus.The two parents bored with the college guide Dingleberry wander off to explore the college on their own and get to know each other better and despite their differences seem to connect.Its an opposites attract type of film and a college film that focuses more on the parents than the student. In fact the kids I felt were poorly defined with Audrey coming across as horrible being someone who is obsessed in wanting to be taught by a particular linguistics professor.The film has a French feel to it as it wants to be rather fast and loose. Edith and George are at first abrasive with each other but have a series of misadventures at college which does feel phony. They interact at a drama class which I never felt convinced by. They get stoned with some students, steal some bikes and even have a kiss at a projection booth.Still it is a sweet and watchable but never grabs you. A middling film that never gets the top grades.

I usually do not rate and review movies, but I think this one is underrated, and I have to help it be seen by more viewers, because it deserves it. If you are a romantic soul and have a good sense of humor, this is your movie. It is meant to entertain, but also make you think about the meaning of life and love, family bonds and the prices you pay. There are some minor flaws, but, as I said earlier, the movie has been made to entertain. The characters of Any Garcia and Vera Farmiga are solid and believable. There is a real chemistry between them. The story is building in a realistic way and pace. It convinced me that it is possible one to be caught by surprise and find true love and a soul mate even when they are middle aged and think that they know everything about life and love. And... I do not like spoilers, but I have to say that I, kind of liked the "non Hollywood" ending. If you are hesitating whether to see it or not, please give it a try!