The Best and the Brightest

The Best and the Brightest (2011)

Genres - Comedy  |   Sub-Genres - Farce  |   Release Date - Oct 16, 2010 (USA), Jun 24, 2011 (USA - Limited)  |   Run Time - 93 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Jason Buchanan

New York City newcomers Jeff (Neil Patrick Harris) and Samantha (Bonnie Somerville) discover just how fast a little white lie can spiral out of control while attempting to get their five-year-old daughter into the hyper-competitive school system in this farcical comedy from director Josh Shelov. Sam has always dreamt of living in the big city. Little did she realize that getting her daughter into a good private school by the start of the fall semester would be the biggest challenge she ever undertook. Discouraged yet determined to cut through the bureaucracy at all costs, Sam convinces Jeff to hire Sue Lemon (Amy Sedaris), a quirky consultant, who lands them an interview at the renowned Coventry Day School by convincing the stuffy headmistress (Jenna Stern) that computer programmer Jeff is actually an esteemed poet. Suddenly thrust before the entire school board as he attempts to maintain the elaborate ruse, the reluctant Jeff finds himself the toast of the Upper East Side. Eventually, Jeff and Sam are forced to choose between building their future on a fragile foundation of lies or admitting the truth and potentially being laughed all the way back to Delaware. Kate Mulgrew, Christopher McDonald, and John Hodgman co-star.

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Keywords

competition, daughter, headmistress, school