Surprisingly incoherent and boring

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

In 1969 Pennsylvania, Jamie Schwartz (Alex Wolff) is in his Senior Year at Crampton Prep. The other boys hate him and the teachers are little better. He wants to do a play about Holden Caulfield adapting J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. He likes a townie girl but another, Deedee Gorlin (Stefania LaVie Owen), likes him and his play. He runs away from the bullying and goes in search of the reclusive Salinger. Deedee volunteers to drive him.There are some early extended flashbacks. Most of it is unnecessary except for showing a hatred of him from the start and the cause of his isolation. Jamie is a rather dislikeable awkward nerd while Deedee is adorable. He's clueless in an annoying way. It makes his obsession with the pretty girl very superficial. It's appealing to have his sole obsession be Salinger while avoiding the pretty girl trope. Deedee goes hard at Jamie. They could have played with possible homosexuality except for him falling over himself for the pretty girl. There are issues at play with this coming-of-age story. The relationship grows on me but I never really like Jamie. She's the better character and would have been a better protagonist. Chris Cooper does a nice turn in a small role although that exchange could have some more supportive words even if it comes from Deedee.

I saw this film at the Sedona Film Festival in February, 2016 and hope it receives a theatrical release, as I would love to see it again and believe it deserves a wide audience. It is a superb story, based on real events in director James Sadwith's life, beautifully shot and told. The acting is excellent, from the awkwardly appealing Alex Wolff as the young protagonist, who identifies so strongly with Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield, that he writes an unauthorized theatrical version, casting himself in the lead role, to seasoned veteran Chris Cooper, as the legendarily aloof author. The New England countryside is gloriously depicted and utilized as a backdrop for this highly original tale, starting in a traditional boarding school and ultimately a road trip along country lanes, as Jamie and a townie girlfriend (well played by Stephania Owen) take off in search of JD Salinger.

I loved this movie! I am a huge fan of Nat & Alex Wolff's music as well as their movies, so I was very interested in seeing Alex in a leading role. "Coming Through the Rye" was just up my alley. I adore coming-of-age films and characters who are obsessed with books (like me). The film was a perfect combination of a well-written script, beautiful cinematography, and excellent performances by the cast - especially the leads, Alex Wolff and Stefania Owen. They truly became their characters. I was completely captured by Jamie's journey. It's insane to think that the writer/director actually did all of the things Jamie did! (Yes, the movie is based upon James Sadwith's actual experiences.) It's very real and personal and intimate and fantastic. You don't see movies like this in theaters these days. ******* SPOILERS *********I have to talk about one of my favorite scenes. There was one scene where Jamie and DeeDee are in a field at sunset and they are hitting these milkweed plants. The seeds pop out and float all around them. Many get stuck in DeeDee's curly hair, which Jamie then lovingly removes. It leads to their first kiss. I literally couldn't stop smiling throughout that whole part. It was just so beautiful and sweet. Also - Alex. I have to commend him on an outstanding portrayal of Jamie. When Jamie breaks down and is crying in the hotel room...it's perfect. It's not exaggerated and cheesy. He doesn't over-act. It was so raw and natural and real. I can't wait to see what he does in the future. He's a good one.After the film ended, James was actually there for a Q & A. He was awesome and extremely nice. My mom and I told him the story of how I begged her to let me skip school and drive five hours to see this film, since it was on my 18th birthday. I got a picture with him and his wife gave me the "Coming Through the Rye" poster! It was the perfect end to a fantastic birthday. :)

Spoiler alert! This movie was so exciting for me to watch. I am a longtime fan of JD Salinger and the only one in my high school English class who didn't write Holden Caulfield off as crazy. I have read other stories of journalists going on treks to locate the reclusive Salinger only to make it as far as his driveway or front door to be turned away. When the filmmaker said 99% of the dialogue between himself and Salinger was true, I couldn't believe a KID had made it through the fortress! I loved the parallels between the young director's life and Holden's portrayed in the movie. He plays Mercutio in a prep school play and the students cheer his death. "But everyone loves Mercutio" he bemoans. You may remember Mercutio was Holden's favorite character in Romeo and Juliet. The alienation he feels from the other kids also parallels Holden's feelings of isolation. I loved the addition of Dee Dee a freckled curly haired cute and wonderfully insightful and kind girl who has an obvious crush on Jamie, the young director. She has her own strong feelings about the book Catcher In The Rye, pointing out that Holden always wanted to save kids from making mistakes and dangerous fates. Perhaps that is even why in reality the famous writer met the young playwright head on and even though he discouraged his play of Catcher in the Rye did encourage his creative endeavors generally.