Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Carrie Knight ***may have spoilers****I was previously in a writing group similar to this one for a couple years, took various creative writing classes, even studying with well known authors so I really got a kick out of it. Created as a fake docu-drama about motley group of budding writers, I felt for the various characters as they were desperately trying to find agents, get published or even self-publish, fall in love, or out of it, etc. Even though much was greatly exaggerated it was amusing, always something going on. Compared to many movies out there, I loved it. It was different and held my attention thruout.

S M Maybe I'm the exception, but having dealt with every one of these personality types in writer groups, I found this movie to be hilarious and therapeutic. This movie is exactly why I don't tell my friends what I write. "If she can do it, I can do it." Then put in the work and prove it, jackass. I have watched this movie twice already, on Netflix, and I will be buying a copy to watch on days when I need to be reminded to ignore the professional jealousy of those around me. Trust me, it's just not worth telling people what you write. Pen names are the way to go. These are the characters, as I saw them, and as I know them to be in person: 1. One woman is a dim-witted, spoiled narcissist who barely makes time to write, yet she tells everyone she's a "writer." She looks at pictures of herself while she does yoga, to get inspired.2. Her husband, who doesn't actually write, but keeps a tape recorder handy so he can record his "brilliant" ideas, which are usually just character names that he finds clever, or half-baked plots. In other words, he's not a writer. The "idea" doesn't write the story, and is absolutely worthless unless you're fleshing it out in the book, and he is not. 3. A sweet guy who loves classic literature, like The Great Gatsby, and takes his own writing very seriously. He submits manuscripts to publishers and agents, and keeps all of his rejection letters on his wall. He admits at the beginning of the movie that he hasn't written in two weeks.4. A narcissistic war veteran who idolizes Tom Clancy and thinks his manuscript is good enough to become a movie. Also, he holds a self-published book signing at a hardware store. (I know someone who threw her own self-published book signing at an IHOP.)5. A guy who's in love with being a writer. It gives him an identity. But he's only written three pages of what he calls a manuscript, and instead of writing the rest of that book, he just revises those three pages again. 6. The girl who makes writing a priority, but hasn't read any of the classics, and hasn't gone to college. But she's the one who lands an agent, a book deal, and a movie deal. I've seen the movie twice and I'm fairly certain that she's the only character who doesn't trash anyone else's writing. I understand why people who haven't belonged to a writers' group may find the movie boring, but it was the only piece of fiction I've ever seen that captured the delusional narcissism of a writers' group. As soon as one person in the group gets successful, the claws come out. "She doesn't deserve it." "It's because she looks good in a miniskirt." ""I'm the better writer, it's not fair." She also put in work, and put her writing first. It doesn't matter who you've read or what you've studied. If you don't finish your manuscript, you will not be successful. I hate to say that writers are this unlikable in person, but we are. I revised my review to say this -- I am both traditionally published, AND self-published. I read other reviews that thought the movie took digs at self-publishing, but I didn't see it that way. There ARE people just like John K. Butzin, who don't know how self-publishing really works, and get scammed as a result. His goal isn't to make a living with his book, but to see it on the big screen someday, and to "get published." His character was the funniest and most realistic, to me. Although, on some level, it's incredibly sad, because guys like him actually exist. I watched this movie with a writer friend and Dennis Farina said many things that made us look at each other and mention names of people we knew. Again, it's actually sad, but it felt so good to laugh. Ten bright, glowing stars from me.

Amy Adler In the Los Angeles area, Henry (Chris Klein) delivers pizzas and cleans carpets. Once a promising football star who won a college scholarship, injuries turned him in a new direction. Now, he aspires to be a famous writer and goes regularly to the place where F. Scott died, for he greatly admires our creator of The Great Gatsby. To further his cause, he has joined a "writing group" who pledges to lift each other up in the hopes of future publishing. Among the ragtag groups is an eye doctor (Dylan Walsh) who started the group to support his lovely wife (Teri Polo) who is writing a Russian romance. Also attending regularly are a pretentious young hotshot, who writes a mere sentence at a time, a wannabe Tom Clancy, John (Dennis Farina) who KNOWS he has what it takes and beautiful Hannah (Kaley Cuoco) who seems a bit dim, never having heard of some of the world's top authors. Mysteriously, Henry is in love with Hannah, although she is not an intellectual like him, and he has developed writer's block as a result of his unrequited love. Amid book launches at hardware stores, secret affairs, and desperate attempts to garner agents, who will be the first to make it big? This DARLING film is a winner on many fronts. it is funny, romantic, and spot on in its analysis of would be writers. The cast is wonderful, especially Farina who gave one of his last great comic turns. Viewers will also like the great sets, mighty nice costumes, lovable script and very fine direction. What a would have given to see this terrific film in a big screen setting!

nesthimer-737-113687 I am a writer, in a group, and while my group is excellent and nothing like this, I see the truth in it. I liked the movie, and I'm glad the good people had good things happen in the end.That is all I want to say, but I am informed that is not enough. Must write more. So, I suggest writers who have been in groups, good, bad or indifferent watch and enjoy. Don't go into it with serious expectations. If you are a writer not/never in a group, do not watch this. Instead, go write something. Do you need a prompt? I have a reliable one. Close your eyes and visualize a door. Now see someone go in, or come out. Who is that person and what does he or she do? Does he or she speak to you? And what words are said? Write for the length of the movie.