The Year of Getting to Know Us

There are independent films that believe they're far greater than they actually are, thinking that by casting past-their-prime stars in an ensemble piece it will fool people into believing the movie is far deeper and more profound than it is. A Year of Getting to Know Us is one such work. Adapted from two separate short stories, director/co-writer Patrick Sisam begins his exercise in self-indulgence by introducing Christopher Rocket (played by Jimmy Fallon), an emotionally numb freelance writer who returns to Florida after hearing that his estranged father (Tom Arnold) had a stroke. His girlfriend (Lucy Liu) is struggling to work through Chris's commitment issues, tagging along to help him come to terms with his rocky childhood. The Year of Getting to Know Us desperately wants to be compared to Garden State, as there are many imitated, but never duplicated, moments from that film here. However, it's safe to say that Patrick Sisam has a great deal to learn in regards to captivating his audience, as Fallon is no Zach Braff and watching him do Madonna karaoke for his girlfriend is nowhere near as compelling as seeing a group of people get high off ecstasy to "In the Waiting Line" by Zero 7. There are many moments here that will induce laughter, but for all the wrong reasons. Whether it's Tom Arnold's stone cold coma face, Sharon Stone's "MomTube" video blogs or Lucy Liu attempting to seduce Buster from Arrested Development, Sisam leaves the film open to mockery in every frame. Besides a joke comparing Joseph Stalin to Chevy Chase, nothing good can be said about this indie. The DVD also features press conference footage from Sundance 2008, where the actors fib through their teeth about their co-workers' performances and a medicated Sharon Stone tries to seduce Tom Arnold.