Asking for a hug in a job interview isn't exactly standard protocol, but that's what Justice Smith did in his audition for the new Netflix film "All the Bright Places." And it worked.
Amazingly, it doesn't sound nearly so creepy or weird when you hear him explain it.
The up-and-comer _ previously seen in "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" and the Pokemon film "Detective Pikachu" _ co-stars with Elle Fanning in this new romantic drama, premiering Friday. The film is based on the bestselling young-adult novel of the same name, though director Brett Haley was determined to craft a film that's more than just an angsty teen tearjerker, Smith says. It follows the unlikely friendship (and romance) of popular high-school student Violet (Fanning), grief-stricken after losing her sister in a fatal car accident, and class "freak" Theodore Finch (Smith), who's gripped by demons of his own. The film explores tough issues _ from mental illness to lame (or so they think, at first) social studies assignments _ while showcasing Smith's laid-back charm.
