Director: Maggie Kiley
MPAA Rating: NR
Film Pulse Score: 4.5/10
A more appropriate title for Maggie Kiley’s rom com Brightest Star should probably have been Dullest Star or possibly Weakest Star. Although it wouldn’t have helped put any asses in seats, it certainly would be more accurate than the idea that anything in this film is bright. This generic snooze-fest contains a threadbare plot tied together with a half-hearted series of astronomy-related metaphors.
The film revolves around Chris Lowell as a college student trying to find his way in life and meet a nice girl. He accomplishes the second part by beginning to date a girl in his astronomy class played by Rose McIver. Like so many instances of young love, the relationship crumbles and our protagonist, who remains nameless, struggles getting over the breakup until eventually falling for his roommate, played by Jessica Szohr. He gets a well-paying job with her father (Clark Gregg) and things seem to be going swimmingly, that is until the ex re-enters the picture. A love triangle ensues and the boy must look to the stars to navigate his way through adulthood.
The problem with Brightest Star lands within its all too earnest and simple script. The dialogue is filled with quasi-intellectual tidbits of advise that feel completely uninspired and sappy. The main character will have an existential crisis of some sort, then an older and wiser peer will set him straight with some random pearls of wisdom- cue the dramatic indie music.
The dull plot might have been bearable, were it not for the complete lack of character development. We simply don’t know enough about anyone in the film to care about them one way or the other. We don’t even know the main character’s name, so there’s very little incentive for the viewer to stay with him through his journey. I never got the sense that I knew any of these people, and they didn’t seem interesting or real enough to make me even want to know them.
The decisions the boy makes are somewhat irrational and although years go by, it’s a constant struggle to figure out how much time has passed. One second he’s working in a sandwich shop being miserable, then he’s working in an office being miserable, then he’s working as a janitor at an observatory being miserable. Understanding the passage of time will help us understand his mindset and where he’s at in his life, but since that’s never really clear, it only exacerbates the disconnect we feel with him.
Brightest Star is a completely mediocre endeavor from start to finish. There may be some solid cameos and the entire cast does a solid job, but it’s not enough to save this film from being nothing more than a manila folder.
