Easier with Practice (2009)

90% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(579 ratings)

A writer traveling to promote his unpublished novel enters into a bizarre phone relationship with a mysterious woman in this cellular love story based on Davey Rothbart's autobiographical GQ article of the same name. Davy Mitchell (Brian Geraghty) is a writer who has yet to realize his full… More A writer traveling to promote his unpublished novel enters into a bizarre phone relationship with a mysterious woman in this cellular love story based on Davey Rothbart's autobiographical GQ article of the same name. Davy Mitchell (Brian Geraghty) is a writer who has yet to realize his full potential. In order to raise awareness about his latest manuscript, Davy hits the road with his younger brother Sean (Kel O'Neill) and begins performing readings for small groups across the country. One night, while sitting in a lonely hotel, Davy's phone rings unexpectedly. The voice on the other end of the line belongs to Nicole, and before long Davy and Nicole have established a unique bond despite the fact that they've never actually met face to face. The more Davy gets to know Nicole, the happier he becomes. But when the time finally comes to meet his long-distance love interest, the itinerant writer realizes that before he can truly be honest with Nicole, he must first start being honest with himself. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Written By: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 12, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Apr 6, 2010
Studio: Lantern Lane Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
An unexpectedly stirring first feature by Kyle Patrick Alvarez about the challenges of making human connections in the weird and wired 21st century.
Justin Chang, Variety
Amusingly predicated on the romantic possibilities of phone sex, Easier With Practice pushes past its titillating premise to become a quietly provocative love story about emotionally stunted manhood and the risks some guys will take to connect.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Geraghty relies too heavily on facial expressions and mannerisms, but those who appreciate visible effort may be seduced.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Easier With Practice reveals the sense of loneliness and isolation that permeates modern life and the lure of fantasy in filling its emptiness.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
Geraghty's wounded-pup appeal keeps the movie alive even as it heads for a dreary, even-more-implausible-than-the-setup third act. Writer-director Kyle Patrick Alvarez, though, usually finds the right tone and appears to have a promising future.
Manohla Dargis, New York Times
Easier With Practice is an intimate drama about a fledgling author with a sensitive soul.
Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
What could have been a film that exploits a potentially salacious premise for artificially comedic or edgy effect, feels instead like an honest and truthful dissection of the sometimes-strange way modern relationships can work.
Philip Kemp, Total Film
Based on a men's mag article, Kyle Patrick Alvarez's debut feature is an honest, funny-sad portrayal of emotional dysfunction.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
The film is a slow-burner: a study in loneliness and alienation, whose unexpected ending and ambiguous aftermath require us to reassess all that has gone before.
Nigel Andrews, Financial Times
It is a cool, funny, mischievous movie, with a stand-out, even break-out, performance from Geraghty...
Lee Griffiths, Little White Lies
Kyle Patrick Alvarez's movie stands out as one the year's as-yet-undiscovered gems.
Stella Papamichael, Radio Times
An engaging and moving tale.
, Time Out
There's no doubting Alvarez's promise, as he weaves familiar indie elements into a film that is likeable, insightful and compelling.
Philip Wilding, Empire Magazine
Excellent American indie that tugs hard on the heartstrings.
Jamie Dunn, The Skinny
What might sound like the set-up for a particularly bawdy Judd Apatow comedy is actually a deceptively sweet tale of twenty-first century alienation.
S. James Wegg, JWR
The genre of road-trip-leading-to-self-discovery now has another masterpiece in its cinematic vault.
Annlee Ellingson, Moving Pictures Magazine
If you give Geraghty some time, and you give Alvarez some time, you can see that they're getting at something by letting it play out.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
Do not have a relationship over the phone unless you know the person at the other end. You never do
Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com
Davy's experience never plays out precisely as you would expect and I, for one, guessed wrong just about every time right up to the poignant, perfectly-acted finale that does provide some closure while opening up a whole new set of life questions.
Don R. Lewis, Film Threat
Easier With Practice is such an assured, solid and just plain good film, it's going to be a tough act to follow.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Gordon A

Interesting counter point to 'Catfish', exploring similar territory about loneliness, identity and our need to connect. Builds in a similar way to the eventual meeting which wrongfooted me and then has the conviction to hold out for a truthful ending.