Rated
PG-13 (Language and Some Sexual Material)
Running
Time: 1 Hour & 57 Minutes
Cast-
Tina
Fey-Portia Nathan
Paul
Rudd-John Pressman
Nat
Wolff-Jeremiah Balakian
Travaris
Spears-Nelson Pressman
Lily
Tomlin-Susannah Nathan
Michael
Sheen-Mark
Gloria
Reuben-Corinne
Wallace
Shawn-Clarence
Directed
by Paul Weitz
 |
| Yes, Tina Fey, don't look at Paul Rudd. Look at me! |
Note: At AMC Empire 25.
'So
have you thought about where you wanted to go for college?' I was just a pimply-faced,
sixteen-year-old junior in high school when my mom started asking me this
question…repeatedly. Honestly, I didn't have an answer for her. I'm not one to
dwell on 'the future' because such worries can be headache-inducing. Instead, I
follow Qui-Gon Jinn's advice: 'Keep your concentration here and now, where it
belongs.' Anyone who's ever attended college will know how stressful the
admissions process can get. Not only do you have to choose the 'right' school
but also the 'right' major and parents can get a little too crazy at this part
(I have first-hand experience on this). Let's also not forget the financial
cost. Paul Weitz's latest film, "Admission," does not focus on this.
Rather, it takes a behind-the-scenes look at the people who decide whether a
student gets into their school or not—the admissions officer. Starring Tina Fey
and Paul Rudd, you would think that their pairing guarantees comedy gold but
unfortunately, that is not the case. Although "Admission" benefits
from Fey and Rudd's charming presence, the film squanders its unique premise by
shoehorning in too many contrived subplots and turning all its characters into
walking clichés.
Thirty-eight-year-old Portia Nathan (Tina Fey) has been
working as an admissions officer for sixteen years at New Jersey's Princeton
University. Every day, she sifts through hundreds of applications from students
anxious to attend the prestigious college. When the current Dean of Admissions
(Wallace Shawn) announces his retirement, Portia competes with fellow
co-worker/frenemy Corinne (Gloria Reuben) for the job. However, her personal
and professional life is thrown into disarray when a former classmate named
John Pressman (Paul Rudd) invites Portia to his alternative school for the
gifted in New Hampshire. Arriving at the school, John introduces her to
seventeen-year-old Jeremiah Balakian (Nat Wolff), who just might be the son
that Portia secretly gave up for adoption when she was in college. Although his
grades are terrible, Jeremiah managed to get a near-perfect score on his SAT
and aced all eight of his AP exams, despite the fact that he didn't even take
the relevant classes. He voices his desire to go to Princeton and soon, Portia
finds herself bending the rules for Jeremiah while developing romantic feelings
for John.
Based on the novel of the same name by Jean Hanff Korelitz,
"Admission" is a pleasant enough film to watch and you want to cut it
some slack because the two leads are so damn likable yet the script from Karen
Croner has too many problems. It tries hard to leave audiences with a smile on
their face but most will be left feeling 'meh.' The best parts of the film is
when it focuses on how admissions officers decide who to accept and who to
deny. As she goes through one folder after another, Portia envisions each
applicant demonstrating their talents while she recites them out loud. This is
a nice touch from Weitz because it humanizes the character and you get a sense
that she genuinely wants the best for these kids. The film also touches on how
Princeton University (along with similar Ivy League schools) cater to only
students with parents who have a large bank account and Portia ends up trying
to bend the system for Jeremiah even though he's at an economic disadvantage. She
believes that this socially-inept kid, whose sole talent is ventriloquism, is
exactly what Princeton needs and the idea that these Ivy League schools only
recruit those who come from money is enough to fill an entire film. However,
Weitz instead packs in numerous subplots that ultimately dilute the main story.
First off, the fact that Jeremiah may or may not be Portia's son was not needed
as it makes all her actions throughout the film seem questionable. Is she
helping him because he's gifted or is it due to her belief that he may be her
son? What's worse is that it reduces her to a caricature of a needy parent. Second,
why the hell is a teacher like John digging into this kid's background? The way
he inserts himself into Portia's life is not only invasive but also highly
unprofessional. John is essentially guilting her in order to get Jeremiah into
Princeton. Third, the romance between these two characters feels forced, as is
the comedy. It never entirely meshes well with the rest of the film and none of
the subplots exploring these characters' personal problems are interesting due
to how clichéd they are. When Portia's boyfriend (Michael Sheen) of ten years
suddenly breaks up with her, it's played for laughs, with him constantly
running into her with his new girlfriend, who's only referred to as 'that Woolf
woman.' It gets a few chuckles the first time but it quickly grows tiresome when
it keeps repeating itself. Later on, there's a gag involving a pregnant cow and
you're left wondering why Weitz felt the need to include this. Meanwhile, John
is struggling with his duties as a father and it just drags the film down.
Despite all these issues, you have to give "Admission" credit for
having its heart in the right place yet there's no edge to the drama. Weitz
tiptoes around the issues with the admissions process and instead serves up
situations that seem to be drudged up from a bad sitcom.
One of the sole bright
spots is the presence of Tina Fey. She's adorable, sexy, and hilarious to boot
so it's great to see her on the big-screen, even if it's only every few years
since she's also a mother of two daughters. Fey's role as Portia Nathan isn't
too dissimilar from the characters she's previously played but this one gives
her the chance to show off her dramatic chops. She does not disappoint, with the
seasoned comedienne delivering a nuanced performance, something that is sorely
lacking in the script. Paul Rudd is his usual charming self, although this is
the umpteenth time I've seen him play a good-natured schlub. Maybe it's time to
think outside the box, Mr. Rudd. Nat Wolff is endearing as the socially awkward
Jeremiah but the rest of the supporting cast are given one-note roles. Lily
Tomlin is little more than a parody of a man-hating feminist while Michael
Sheen slums around for a paycheck.
Released on March 22, 2013,
"Admission" has received mixed reviews with 44% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics agreed that the film had 'a pair of immensely likable leads in Tina Fey
and Paul Rudd, but it wastes them on a contrived (and clumsily directed)
screenplay.' It flopped at the weekend box office with a paltry debut of $6.4
million. I wasn't surprised considering that there were only twenty people during an afternoon
showing…on a Saturday. That's a real shame because "Admission" could've
been a good film. Unfortunately, the messy script keeps it from earning a
passing grade despite Fey and Rudd's presence.
Final
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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