Man in the Chair

Writer/director Michael Schroeder’s CV is unremarkable apart from a few seedy soft-core thrillers and the only slightly superior Cyborg 2 with Angelina Jolie. So it’s odd to find him making a sentimental mentor/student redemption film. Christopher Plummer is Flash, a grumpy cinephile coerced by would-be director and unconvincing bad boy Cameron (Michael Angarano) to help him make a student movie. Over the course of the film’s production they forge a mutual respect with a lot of clever references and in-jokes along the way. It’s sweet and earnest but suffers for its familiarity and a slew of Batteries Not Included-style ‘old folks banding together’ silliness.

Jonathan Williams