
The film, titled “Poetic License,” centers around the theme of transformation. Incidentally, it hails from the cinematic universe spearheaded by Apatow, known for focusing on characters experiencing significant life changes (Judd Apatow is a producer, and Leslie Mann, his wife, stars in the movie). Ari finds himself lost and chooses to stop taking his antidepressants; Sam frets about moving directly from college into a monotonous and unsatisfying career at Morgan Stanley. Those around them are also undergoing change. In a poetry class at their university, they become smitten with Liz (Mann), who is auditing the course as a means to cope with her daughter Dora (Nico Parker) leaving for college after high school. Their professor, Greta (Martha Kelly), is going through a contentious divorce. Each of them delivers exceptional work, especially Mann, who secures the role she deserves, which Judd has been trying to create for years. This makes Hoffman’s stellar performance even more remarkable.