2012 Toronto International Film Festival: Imogene

I am kind of looking forward to this one, and I am a little disappointed. The reviews aren't terrible but they basically say that underneath its great performances, and some clever script moments its a little too generic. Still good praise for Annette Bening and Kristen Wiig, who could both be players down the way, but the film as a whole probably won't be in play. Here are some reviews out of TIFF.

Justin Chang at Variety:

"Shrewd comic instincts keep a formulaic pity-party largely afloat in Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's fourth feature collaboration, "Imogene." An able cast, led by Kristen Wiig's prickly lead turn, saves this uneven, excessively quirky but ultimately ingratiating story of a mopey Manhattanite forced to return to her inglorious New Jersey roots for an extended period of self-rediscovery. Offering another sly snapshot of the filmmakers' native New York, a la "The Nanny Diaries" and "The Extra Man," this soft-bellied crowdpleaser should post modest numbers in specialty play and DVD/VOD rotation"

And Deborah Young at The Hollywood Reporter

"Witty acting and sharp observation of the great New York/New Jersey divide push Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini’s Imogene up several notches from the conventional comedy it keeps aspiring to be. It’s almost as though the bitchy acidity of the opening scenes in Manhattan were too sophisticated for life on the New Jersey shore, and Michelle Morgan’s energetic script pulls back to nice, accordingly. If overall on the disappointing side for fans of the directors of American Splendor and Cinema Verité, the film has a clever mix of movie, TV and stage stars, including Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Kristen Wiig and Darren Criss, who should help broadcast its appeal to diversified audiences."

**Thanks to Indiewire for the photo