The Paper Store is a rare look at academia in America. Narrator Stef Dawson, Annalee, is the smart ex student selling her ability to write college papers. Penn Badgley, Sigurd, hires her to write his entire 516 class so he can focus on his thesis. He doubles her price, and she takes on the course. And him. Both rattle on with film jargon non stop very lighthearted and not too insufferable. Both characters are unlikable, yet very realistic in ther sex and money problems. The narration is unreliable. The squabble over credit hours is spot on. Exploitation, manipulation, and education are topics covered in the rapid dialogue like foreplay.
Richard Kind, Professor Marty Kane, let's the truth come out that student don't matter. He can't afford to have his TA bring C students up to A students. He would be let go. He has to have tenure at any price.
David Cronenberg, The Simpsons, and Little Trees are brought up so if you want to enjoy this film brush up on some film studies' topics.
The Paper Store is based on the play 516 by Katharine Clark Gray. She and her husband, Michael Gray, wrote the screenplay.