At Middleton

Directed by Adam Rodgers

(R)

**

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Think of this light tale of a midlife romantic encounter as a “catchy, bittersweet” waltz you’ve heard many times before, said Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune. It’ll hold your attention in this case because “the dancers are fun to watch.” Old pros Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga co-star as parents who meet while visiting a small college with their teenage children. When Farmiga’s freespirited Edith suggests that her uptight counterpart break away with her from the formal tour, they happily flirt their afternoon away by riding bicycles, stumbling into a drama class, and even smoking some pot. Fun though it may be “to watch Garcia let out his inner goofball,” Farmiga steals the show, said Ella Taylor in NPR.org. It’s pure pleasure to see this actress “fling herself about with deceptive abandon, then settle into rue and regret without missing a beat.” But “enjoy the moment while you’re in it,” said Bill Goodykoontz in the Phoenix Arizona Republic. Once you’re done watching this “completely inauthentic” but nimble romance, “it’ll fade fast from your memory.”