Pun Salad

Writer/Director Whit Stillman is whatever the opposite of prolific is. This is his fourth movie in over two decades, and the first since 1998. We saw his 1990 movie, Metropolitan, earlier this year. This movie has (as I type) a mediocre IMDB score, but the critics liked it (75% on the Tomatometer, 67/100 at Metacritic.) And (unusual for me) I'm with the critics on this one. I loved it.

The plot centers around a group of young college women attending "Seven Oaks" (As we're told, it was the "last of the Select Seven to go co-ed".) The ringleader is Violet, a well-meaning, self-serious student. Violet's general goal is social work, making her fellow students a little happier, a little more well-adjusted, sweet-smelling, and civilized. Her methods and viewpoints are … slightly unorthodox.

As the movie opens, she recruits new student Lily to be part of her gang, introducing her to various missions. For example, they run the campus "Suicide Prevention Center". (Unfortunately, the word "Prevention" keeps falling off their sign.) Donuts and coffee are offered to those in a precarious mental state. And only to those people; Violet calmly explains that was part of the deal they made with the supplier, otherwise just anyone would come in for free donuts and coffee.

Violet's other goal: start an international dance craze.

The movie is filled with hilarious lines, mostly delivered deadpan. Greta Gerwig is wonderful as Violet, turning what might be a grating, unpleasant character into a complex and sympathetic one. And I laughed all the way through. Can't ask for more than that.