The House of Tomorrow

Adapted from Peter Bognanni’s 2010 bestseller, this coming-of-age story centers on Sebastian Prendergast (Asa Butterfield), whose parents died in an automobile accident. Sebastian has been raised by his dictatorial nana, Josephine (Ellen Burstyn), in one of visionary Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic domes. Sheltered and home-schooled, 16-year-old Sebastian conducts tours and maintains the retro-futurist house that also serves as a Minnesota tourist attraction and educational center. But when a stroke sidelines Josephine, Sebastian discovers the wider world. Befriended by Bible-thumping Alan Whitcomb (Nick Offerman), whose church youth group was visiting when Josephine was stricken, Sebastian meets Alan’s rebellious teenage son Jared (Alex Wolff), whose recent heart transplant must be constantly monitored. An unlikely friendship grows between awkward Sebastian and insolent Jared, who encourages Sebastian to learn to play the guitar, so they can form a punk rock band, dubbed “The Rash.” Adding to the intrigue, Sebastian is attracted to Jared’s flirtatious older sister (Maude Apatow), plus there’s a discordant interlude with Jared’s estranged, alcoholic mother (Michaela Watkins). Along the way, director Peter Livolsi adroitly intersperses archival footage of futurist Fuller with Fred Armisen doing voiceover narration (Burstyn was actually friends with Fuller, so the videotape of them sailing on his yacht is authentic). An insightful, engaging dramedy, this is recommended. (S. Granger)