As this week comes to a close, it seems the newest batch of music and movies have proved successful in motivating a new roll of disappointing reviews....

The First Time is a polished gem of a teen romantic comedy, with a maturity and emotional intelligence not usually associated with the genre. Don't let it get lost among the louder, shinier releases of the movie weekend.

Sure, it's about losing your virginity -- but Jon Kasdan's new film, The First Time, is about something bigger: the thrill of the new that you used to get as a teen, when you'd escape the orbit of your own high school into the universe of another one, where no one knew who you were.

I started my first day at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival mostly thankful to actually be in Park City in time for my first screening of the day. Then...