As I began to watch this, I turned to my wife, about 10 minutes in, and said this reminds me of Lars and the Real Girl. This movie is different, original, well acted and directed. If you liked Lars and the Real Girl, you will like this. Surreal, makes you really think about the character and what he is going through and the others around him. Great cast.

The movie was the perfect length. I think one of its greatest qualities was that not a single scene was wasted. Everything we saw was relevant, and no longer than it needed to be. I don't want to sound cynical, but I feel like that's an increasingly prominent problem in film.Story-wise, this movie covers everything. The Creative Process is the most prominent storyline, but it also touches on autism, the struggle to connect with your own children, and of course, kidnapping victims returning to society. All of these things are compact and unobtrusive, so you don't even really need to think about them in order to still enjoy the movie. It's a feel-good movie at heart, so it doesn't require analysis to enjoy, but the potential is definitely there. Great to watch with family, or maybe with friends if you're working on your own creative project. I have to say, Mark Hamill plays a better father in this movie than he does a Luke Skywalker in the recent Star Wars films. I just love how it's vaguely mentioned how James was kidnapped for 25 years, but no one really explains how it happened. Little things that are left unsaid really make this movie shine. I would only warn that there are few "jokes" in this movie. It's comedy because of the context, not cause characters spout stand-up in between scenes. Brigsby is funny as a concept, and that's all it needs to be. Lastly, if I could change one thing about this film, I'd make the final film a little more "real." James's final movie just looks too poor for me to believe that so many people would watch it. However, that doesn't detract from the positive message presented at the end.

Brigsby Bear is the sad but wonderful story of a man expressing his passion. Despite the doubt he receives from his family and others perceiving him as "weird". That doesn't stop James to continue pursuing what he loves.Right from the beginning, the movie assures you that it's unique with the introduction of some twists. I was hooked by the 30 minute mark and anticipated what was to come next. It was fascinating to watch James, a quirky and oddball character, get creative and work with his friends. This movie really is about coming together with your friends and creating something with heart in it. The ending demonstrated this beautifully. It also shows what it's like to be a film maker. Pouring all you have into what you love, and getting sick to your stomach worrying if others will actually like it. Another theme I feel the movie conveyed well was the idea of accepting someone for who they are. James' love for Brigsby had roots in a dark past, so it makes sense as to why his parents were resentful towards his feelings. However, they soon accept that Brigsby is a part of James, and they can't change that. James had imagination and dreams, something nobody could take away from him.This film pulls you win from the get go and takes you through a delightful story with a great ending. I was pleasantly surprised, as I went in with practically no idea of what I was in for. I recommend it to those who enjoy making movies or for those who just want to see a touching tale of expressing your creativity.

I wouldn't say this is a great film. But it's definitely a good one. I think a darker version of this film could have been told (not unlike the version told by the film Room from 2015), but for what it is, it gets the job done. I think the reason it does work so well is because of the lead performance. It's a believable role played by a believable actor. The supporting actors are also quite good. Not a must-see or anything but definitely recommended.