Whit Stillman’s “Damsels in Distress” was a nice surprise back in 2011 and it was just as delightful after a recent rewatch. Written and directed by Stillman, “Damsels” is a quirky little comedy that is almost impossible to put in a box. It has its own uniquely wacky sensibility and is driven by its slick dialogue, cleverly constructed narrative, and a delightfully peculiar sense of humor. It’s not a comedy that will have you constantly laughing out loud. But if you’re like me, you’ll be smiling all the way through it.

The story takes place at the East Coast College of Seven Oaks and focuses on a group of three eccentric girls with very unusual perspectives on college, boys, and life in general. Violet (a lights-out Greta Gerwig) is the somewhat awkward group leader. Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) is Violet’s cynical long-time friend. Then there’s the peppy and ever agreeable Heather (Carrie MacLemore).

When not talking about fashion or hygiene, the group makes it their goal to enlighten and influence the degenerated student body around them. At freshman orientation the trio locks onto an incoming new student, Lily (Analeigh Tipton). They immediately (and almost forcibly) take her under their wings, teaching her the keys of survival and achievement at the university.

The first thing you notice about the film is the razor-sharp writing which is most evident in the terrific dialogue. The girls converse about everything from frat houses to soap fragrances, and their conversations often wander off into hilariously absurd directions. Gerwig, Echikunwoke, and MacLemore deliver their lines with a deadpan sincerity that sell them completely.

Most of the group’s goals come from Violet and her need to be needed as well as her desperate pursuit of purpose. She heads the campus suicide prevention center. She prefers loser guys (or “doufi” as we come to know them) because they need stable and calming forces in their lives. And she wants to start a new dance craze because of the emotional value past crazes have had on society. There is a sad undercurrent to Violet and certain scenes portray her as pitiful and sympathetic. In fact, Stillman cleverly baits us into laughing at the her and then makes us feel bad for doing so.

But there’s more going on than just this small group of eccentrics talking back and forth. We meet moronic frat guys who make the girls seem like Rhodes Scholars; a clinically depressed group who find tap dancing therapeutic; a self-absorbed Frenchman with a…shall we say…backwards religion; and several other side characters who work well within the story.

“Damsels in Distress” certainly doesn’t fit within the traditional Hollywood comedy mold and that’s actually a strength. I can still see it being too quirky for some audiences. But for me, I couldn’t get enough of the bizarre back-and-forths, the straight-faced line deliveries, and its overall goofy perspective on college life. There’s also heart mixed in with the humor that adds an extra layer to a film that is just as refreshing today as it was 12 years ago.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS