Dance Party USA minus substance (beyond everyday teenage problems) plus a nicer camera. Would have made a great ~15 minute short, but falls flat on its face with its prolonged takes that serve no purpose in either character development or atmosphere build-up. I'm sick of filmmakers whose sense of cinematic beauty peaks at filming a sunset almost as much as I'm sick of people falling for it.

Upon second viewing, too slight to be as truly impressive as i initially found it. Although i maintain that it corrects many faults i typically find in like-minded films. Which is to say, the steady camera work and mature visual sensibility are appreciated. The cast is charming and unassuming, which could be said for the film as a whole. Almost too sweet and shy to really assert itself, but still full of nice little poetic moments and small emotional poignancy. So basically a better Quiet City.

The ending of the film saved this for me--although it was almost a rip off of the ending of the first vignette in Hsiao Hsien-hou's *Three Times*. The film might have been better if it was shortened, too. I liked the cinematography and I like the actor who played Al.

I can appreciate its eagerness to capture life as you would normally expect to witness it. But unfortunately it didn't make for a very interesting story. I found I really didn't care too much about any of the characters. I liked the idea of the film better than the film itself. The ending was very sweet though and could have concluded a much better story than what was given here.

Minor Threat wrote a song about this movie. I think it was called "Guilty of Being Trite".

By understating the tumultuous feelings of a young college student (whether associated with her impending break-up or otherwise), writer/director Gray invites the audience to engage his heroine, to process the events taking place in her life, and to slowly build a connection with her as a complex human being. A great example of disciplined film making, and definitely another young American filmmaker to keep an eye on.

"Exasperating for its mundane narrative of youthful non-courtship camouflaged by Manhattan street-video naturalism, The Exploding Girl occasionally suggests mumblecore with less improvisation and heaps of undergrad preciousness in place of snarky ir." - Bill Weber