Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

McMurphy I really liked how it started: Quality filming, acting, and music. But then it got a little convoluted. The main actresses looked too much alike. And the dialogue referenced too many names of characters we couldn't possibly have known well enough to follow.As the stories unfolded, everything went downhill. Protagonists were written to do dubious things with insufficient justification for the audience. It seemed like the drama was being "set up," as opposed to organic and justified.Further actions taken by the characters were frustrating, and also didn't seem natural given the circumstances we'd been given (doing things that didn't make sense in the moment). Maybe if we had been given more background for the dubious and frustrating behavior, things would have felt more understandable and appropriate, but I don't think any amount of background could have been sufficient to justify all the weird actions and reactions by the characters.

Anthony Giancola This movie was good. It wasn't exactly great, but it had it's great moments. That being the casting, everyone in this movie assumes their roles well and have good chemistry with each other. The relationship between the loner Tori and the lost Scott while it takes a while to actually occur, is believable. At least to what the movie wants to serve, you aren't supposed to see these two together forever, but you are supposed to see them as a brief fling sort of relationship. One that will probably leave them in a close friendship rather than a romantic commitment. Each character is sort of unlikable in a very likable way. Tori is a bit whiny and cold but never to a point that it gets in the way. Scott has a charming arrogance, but knows when he goes too far. All the characters are like that, sort of how real people act, and it works in the films favor. If I said the film had a drawback it would be the flowing narrative. It takes a little too long for the couple to meet and even longer for the relationship to become believable. There are a few moments that feel a little too rushed, but the film as a whole is good. If you go into it expecting something spectacularly funny or amazingly deep, you might be disappointed depending on your standards. For my money though I'm glad I bought it.

viewsonfilm.com What is it with movies that take place in Pennsylvania? They're kind of depressing. Dreary landscapes, gloom and doom skies, snow, cheap housing. If you've seen All the Right Moves, Wonder Boys, and Out of the Furnace, you know what I'm talking about. Well add 2014's Hollidaysburg to that list. This is another bleak outing filmed entirely in the Quaker State.Directed by first timer Anna Martemucci, well acted by a cast of virtual unknowns, and harboring two female leads that almost look too identical (this will only confuse you at first), Hollidaysburg is the Generation X next, a sort of washed out, existential version of Garden State mixed with 1998's Whatever. It's a plethora of character studies involving some college students and townies who meet up for a five day Thanksgiving weekend. Scott (played by Tobin Mitnick) is a former Prom King turned UCLA student. He flies back to his Pennsylvanian hometown with the help of money via his student loans. Heather (Scott's ex- girlfriend played by Claire Chapelli) is also in town fresh from a semester at Penn State University. Then we have Petroff (Tristan Erwin) as Scott's good friend who lives at home, works at a pizza parlor, and is hush hush about his supposedly stellar SAT scores. There's Scott's brother Phil (played by Philip Quinaz) who is heavily inebriated and loves making tons of pumpkin pies. Finally, we have Rachel Keller as Tori, Scott's outsider love interest and unlikely best friend. That's the unofficial blueprint. The rest of the proceedings involve the lives of these five young adults intersecting over periods of heavy pot- smoking, binge drinking, and bad sex. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a family holiday but in this dirtied-up town, every night's a party (the cold, sentiment-free parents of these twenty-somethings are rarely seen to begin with).Hollidaysburg gives its novice actors plenty of raunchy, suggestive dialogue that relegates a new spin on the seven dirty words (the name "poopdick" is something I've never heard before anywhere). And the loud, coffee house-induced background music sometimes drowns out these words. There is even a scene where a seventy-year old woman runs completely naked while threatening someone with a shotgun (that's a gray area where you might wanna hit the fast forward button on the DVD player, stat). But make no mistake about it, every misunderstood character is somewhat likable and despite various flaws, empathetic. You sense that they don't want to grow up into adulthood. And as you take in "Burg's" dialogue- driven, 87 minute running time, you also sense that they're content on not wanting to leave their drab, colorless environment. The town at which they inhabit for a few sunshine-free days, sucks them in just like with every other vehicle containing a Pennsylvania backdrop. Steel mills, Primanti Brothers Sandwiches, expensive turnpikes, and Iron City Beer. Ah, who can resist.In conclusion, Thanksgiving has always been my favorite time of the year. I mean, I don't cook so basically watching football, drinking spirits, and eating turkey all day is heaven for me. As for movies taking place on the pilgrim-themed holiday, I haven't seen many. Plains, Trains, & Automobiles would probably be right up at the top of a very short list. Is the current flick I'm reviewing in the same league as Steve Martin's classic 1987 comedy? Not quite. But it's worth a look. Its one word title is the actual name of a Central borough right outside of Altoona, PA. I've never been there so I can't tell you what it's like. I will say this though: Hollidaysburg as a lowbrow, coming-of-age yarn, is an interesting, earthy place to visit. Result: 3 Stars.

dbernk So slow and pokey at the start that I thought I would fall asleep. Having watched "The Chair," I understood the test audience's confusion regarding the two lead female characters.But the film grew on me and I started to care what happened to folks. The emotions felt real and I have to admit, for a bit I wondered who would end up with who (even though the Hollywood rules of romantic comedies was followed in the end.Oh, loved the running scene. very funny and sweet.I understand how "Not Cool" won the competition. The other director's fans were always going to overwhelm this little movie. But honestly, it's not even close. This is good, but flawed movie. "Not Cool" was an occasionally funny gag reel.