In the aftermath of the unfortunate success of the High School Musical franchise, The Art of Getting By is notable for being a movie about teenagers that wasn't produced by Disney—it's a welcome return to a time-honored teen movie template in which high schoolers drink, smoke cigarettes, have sex, and make bad decisions that will have emotional repercussions for years to come. It's exactly what most of us want out of a coming-of-age movie, in other words. If you're a teenager, it'll validate your experiences; if you're an adult, it'll make you faintly nostalgic for your high school years while simultaneously reminding you why you'd never, ever want to go back. by Alison Hallett