Rent Damsels in Distress (2011)
3.0 of 5 from 95 ratings
1h 35min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- The story about a student, Violet (Greta Gerwig), who seeks to transform life at her college. With friends Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and Heather (Carrie MacLemore) she takes under wing seemingly nice transfer student Lily (Analeigh Tipton) who soon attracts the attentions of both "playboy-operator" Charlie (Adam Brody) and dreamboat grad student Xavier (Hugo Becker) - but it's Violet who will end up crushed.
- Actors:
- Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Carrie MacLemore, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ryan Metcalf, Jermaine Crawford, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Zach Woods, Domenico D'Ippolito, Nick Blaemire, Aubrey Plaza, Hugo Becker, Meredith Hagner, Joe Coots, Billy Magnussen, Cortez Nance Jr., Aja Naomi King, Jordanna Drazin, Madison Cerniglia
- Directors:
- Whit Stillman
- Producers:
- Whit Stillman, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer
- Writers:
- Whit Stillman
- Studio:
- Sony
- Genres:
- Comedy, Romance
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Reviews (1) of Damsels in Distress
Happy Making - Damsels in Distress review by Steve
Eccentric campus comedy which seems to divide opinion, but is at least as far from gross-out slapstick it's possible to get. This is a charming and intelligent diversion about a trio of college girls who aim to bring contentment, cleanliness and maybe even a little sophistication, into the lives of clueless frat jocks.
This is all talk and essentially plotless, yet a lovely escape into a quirky otherworld of wit and literary allusions where characters momentarily explore random offbeat ideas, and read Penguin Classics! There's a quotable script of bone-dry humour, plus the winsome performances of its young ensemble cast.
Greta Gerwig leads as a brittle scholarship student with a counterintuitive way of seeing everything. She and her humanist girlfriends (Megalyn Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore) provide outreach for suicidal teenagers while a support cast of lovesick undergrads move in and out of their zone of influence.
Everyone gives borderline stoned performances, as if they got high on irony. This is Whit Stillman's best film and of course it flopped. But it has gathered a cult following. It is an unusual, maybe even unique comedy, with dialogue so good, I didn't want to miss a line. Which is a shame as the actors all mumble....
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Critic review
Damsels in Distress review by Melissa Orcine - Cinema Paradiso
Whit Stillman films are about white rich people living in their rich bubble. He’s done it time and again in the 90’s – ‘Metropolitan’, ‘Barcelona’, and ‘The Last Days of Disco’ – and now he’s back to the fray, this time focusing on four young college women studying in New England, led by indie fave Greta Gerwig (‘Greenberg’) as Violet. In ‘Damsels in Distress’, Stillman proposes a group of women who are perky and privileged that they can’t help but help other people, particularly a suicide prevention program where they hand out – not just advice – but also donuts and tap dance lessons. Unconventional and quirky, yup, but if it gets the job done, why not?
The heart of the story is Greta Gerwig’s Violet. Although not a likeable character at first, what with her opposition to individuality and conservative views, she grows on you because she’s complex even if at first notice you may think she’s bland. On the opposite of her is Lily (‘America’s Next Top Model’ finalist Analeigh Tipton), a spitfire personality who has a penchant to fall in love with the wrong guys.
In fact, Violet and Lily even manage to get into a love triangle with a cute but totally a cad guy (Adam Brody). But don’t get fooled; ‘Damsels in Distress’ is not a formulaic romantic comedy. It is really a formulaic Whit Stillman work, not exactly for the mainstream and also, an acquired taste.
‘Damsels in Distress’ has a very old-fashioned and awkward vibe – a Stillman staple – and you’re unsure from what time Violet and friends’ shenanigans are happening. But one thing’s for sure: it’s hardly relatable. Again, Stillman the director loves to make films on white rich people and their white rich people problems, and the mass audience may find it grating and plain annoying. In truth, what business do we have over white rich people problems when we don’t understand how their problems became real problems, anyway?
In the end, ‘Damsels in Distress’ is a good comeback film for director Whit Stillman – for his fans at least. Also, beware of the dance numbers. Seriously.