Parents' Guide to Person to Person

While occasionally charming, this ensemble indie about strangers and friends in New York City focuses so much more on characterization than a cohesive plot that it's only partially compelling. Not all of the subplots are equal; the relationship between Jacobson's new reporter and Cera's editor is the least interesting (not to mention that there's no way a former library worker could land a job as a beat reporter in the media industry's most competitive city). But Cera and Jacobson might want to consider working together again in a straight-up comedy, as both are gifted comedians. On the other side, the subplot with the least screen time has hilarious moments: Baker Hall's watch repair shop features his good friend, Buster (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), whose storytelling skills are without equal. His tale of making love to a woman who had "made it" with Frank Sinatra is a real scene stealer.

Gevinson, looking and sounding like a mash-up of a young Michelle Williams and Scarlett Johansson, is well cast as a smart, judgmental bisexual teen who can't stand her best friend's dimwitted boyfriend. But the movie really belongs to feature newcomer Coopersmith, who also starred in the short film on which Person to Person is based. He's refreshingly real and compelling as an upbeat middle-aged hipster who doesn't seem to do anything but look for vinyl gems for his record collection. Sample is also a standout as Bene's melancholic best friend who regrets what he did to the woman he loves. It's just a shame that the various parts of this movie don't add up to something more interesting.