Good assessment. I like that it sounds like they made major efforts to avoid greenscreen and effects as much as possible, which is very needed. I'm reading the book now and the voice and humor is way more quirk chungus than the movie and I think Ryan Gosling as an actor is much more likable than the book narrator written voice. I noticed in the author's Wikipedia page though it says he is socially liberal and fiscally conservative so that probably plays into the movie having a refreshing just be a good movie compass instead of bullshit.