10 Great Movies Starring The How I Met Your Mother Cast

9. Liberal Arts (2012) - Josh Radnor

Jeff, Who Lives At Home
IFC Films

During production of How I Met Your Mother, series lead Josh Radnor decided to branch out and do some more movie-based work. Liberal Arts is the second film which the actor wrote, directed and starred in, and it's pure joy.

The film follows Jesse (Radnor), a man at odds with his life and his career. Invited back to his alma mater, a university in Ohio, for the retirement of his old professor Peter (Richard Jenkins), Jesse meets 19-year-old student Zibby (Elizabeth Olson). Jesse and Zibby hit it off, and form a bond as they discuss life, music and literature.

Liberal Arts is one of those films that revels in its simplicity, being at once a thoughtful character study and a striking rom-com with lots to say about love and life.

With a few fresh twists thrown in their for good luck, a solid script from Radnor and great performances from Radnor, Olsen and a young(er) Zac Efron, it's the kind of film guaranteed to make you smile.

Contributor

I get to write about what I love, so that's pretty cool. Every great film should seem new every time you see it. Be excellent to each other.