Richard Linklater’s (School of Rock, Before Sunset) latest production is a diverting and exhilarating tale about a young man’s first steps into the theatre.

Young Richard Samuels, played by teen heartthrob Zac Efron, has a chance encounter with Orson Welles (Christian McKay), the director of Broadway’s first Shakespeare production: Julius Caesar, in the grand Mercury Theatre. Charming his way into the cast, Samuels soon meets his match in Sonja Jones (Claire Danes), an enchanting production assistant with all the right kinds of connections. Things start to go sour when Richard finds out that Sonja is willing to do a whole lot to make her big break, with little thought to him and his feelings.

Efron gives an impressive performance, successfully pulling off the role of a tentative new actor who must learn about love, life and the theatre. The best aspect of the movie for most will be the portrayal of Welles by McKay, who impeccably captures Welles’ radiating charisma, talent, and ability to improvise the most lyrical of speeches. All in all, Me and Orson Welles provides us with an entertaining periodic comedy-drama with something for everyone.