Admission

Of late, I've had a really tough time finding a comedy I could sink my teeth into. It being my favorite genre, I'm constantly scouting around to find one that works. Romantic comedies are typically the worst comedies out there, mostly because the jokes seem so forced and contrived. With this offing, instead of "Admission" being a romantic comedy, it's more of a romantic dramedy (comedy/drama combo).

Straitlaced Princeton University admissions officer Portia Nathan (Tina Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school, Quest overseen by her former college classmate, the freewheeling John Pressman (Paul Rudd). Pressman has surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption many years ago. Soon, Portia finds herself bending the rules for Jeremiah in order for him to be chosen for admission, putting at risk the life she thought she always wanted-- but in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having.

Others to round out the cast are Michael Sheen as Mark, boyfriend of Portia's, Wallace Shawn as Clarence, Dean of Admissions, Lily Tomlin as Susannah, Portia's Mom, Gloria Reuben as Corinne, Travaris Spears as Nelson, Olek Krupa as Professor Polokov, and Sonya Walger as Helen.

This was skillfully directed by veteran director, Paul Weitz ("American Pie" '99, "Down to Earth" '01, "About a Boy" '02, "In Good Company" '04, "American Dreamz" '06, "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" '09, "Little Fockers" '10, "Being Flynn" '12). He has such a knack of putting his actors in situations that make them appear they are the person the actor is portraying. This was adequately written by Karen Croner based on the novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I'm not sure why the character played by Michael Sheen was in this. He played Portia's boring, practically non-existent boyfriend. This was a definitely flaw along with Lily Tomlin's character. These actors were wasted in a film that just didn't really need them playing the characters they played. The basic premise of the film was certainly worthy of tackling, especially with all the hoopla of universities and their cost and difficulty in getting into them these days.

Don't get me wrong, I not saying to throw the baby out with the bath water, this was not a bad film, just not a great one. However, if your looking for a film that will have you chuckling, but also will make you think a bit, the rest may be more forgivable.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                        Rated: PG-13                       107mins.