Admission

Admission is the latest Tina Fey vehicle and the end result turns out to be a charming and rather likable comedy. Granted, some parts are rather bland and contrived which you can thank the screenplay for, but the charming actors, subtle direction, and an interesting story is able to elevate this movie to be the charming movie it is.

Paul Weitz directs a film about an overworked Princeton admissions officer named Portia Nathan who on her recruitment trips, meets the highly intellectual Jeremiah takes to the help of an old college classmate named John. Against all odds, she decides to do what she can to get Jeremiah enrolled in Princeton despite his high school mediocrity.

As mentioned before, this film has very likable actors and the chemistry fluidly bounces off with each other. Tina Fey is great and she reminds me of her role as Liz in 30 Rock. Paul Rudd is the perfect man for her because of his charm and he was excellent. Nat Wolff as Jeremiah is very sweet and has come a long way since his Nickelodion series. Finally, I loved Lily Tomlin's character as Tina's mother because she was a hoot!

Overall, Admission was destined to be a so-so movie, but it wasn't so in my eyes. It's not a laugh-out-loud comedy but it's not meant to be despite a few moments when I chuckled. There is a fair amount of drama and romance here to be effective. It's a small movie, but I had a good time with it. I rate this film 8/10.

"Admission" was billed as a comedy, too bad it's not. Even when we're introduced to Portia (Tina Fey), I still couldn't figure out what type of comedy they were going for. There just doesn't seem to be any inherent comedy in the university admission process. But when Portia accidentally kisses high school director John (Paul Rudd), it finally becomes clear that this is in fact a romantic comedy, a dramatic romantic comedy.

The actors were definitely in their element. Tina Fey's Portia was the professionally-minded business woman who only kind of wanted it all. She wanted a promotion at work and to read poetry in bed with her British boyfriend Mark (Michael Sheen). I know what you're thinking, the perfect 30 Rock reunion. But, no. Mark is not Wesley Snipes, and their relationship isn't hilariously bad, just sad. But then Paul Rudd enters the picture incorporating the best of a country bumpkin and a privileged rich kid. He was irresistibly charming with that dimpled smile and those sparkling green eyes.

There is a plot. John introduces Portia to her son whom she put up for adoption and who now wants to attend Princeton. Portia has to figure out if she's ready to be a mother and if Jeremiah (Nat Wolff) should be accepted into Princeton. It's not a bad story, just not a particularly funny one. The characters are all good characters so they hold our interest despite the lack of substance to the movie.

The laughs are hard to come by, but if you're thinking in terms of a dramatic romantic comedy, then that shouldn't be too surprising. The lack of laughs is a detriment to the comedy this supposedly is. But as I said, the characters and actors are good. And if you really connect to Portia's predicament, then we have a nice little mid-life crisis turned coming-of-age flick. But that's going to be a small audience. The actors luckily have fans, and deservedly so, they have arguably never been better on the big screen. Depending on your love for Rudd and Fey, "Admission" is probably best left on the wait list.

I was really surprised at the review ratings for this movie.At first I considered not watching it because of the average rating, but when flipping through it it appeared like a movie to consider watching, after all some ratings, for me, have been way off. I am not into really bad slap stick comedy or bad acting, or in mediocre been done before scripts. I began watching the movie and almost regretted it, after a slow start, and after a few over acted comedy parts, but upon finishing it, I was glad I stuck it out. The overly comic parts were far and few between, and turned out to be a little of the comic relief that balanced the emotional and some what unique script. The acting by Tina,Ben,Paul,and Travaris was actually good (they gave Tina a bit much of the overly comic parts, but what can you do). Overall, I was impressed with the movie and its "differentness".

I would recommend this movie to those who aren't overly critical on every detail and aspect of a movie, to those who like sensitive movies that overcome pasts and trials and fight for people and ideals, and to those who can weigh the value of people who are not perfect or who do things perfectly, but who change and grow and fight to do better.

I love Tina Fey and Paul Rudd never gets old either (literally and metaphorically). The movie itself has quite a few flaws though. Never sure if it is a comedy or a drama. Walking that line was never going to be easy and it stumbles more than a few times. Tina and Paul do their best to keep it on tracks.

The kid actors are pretty decent, but don't have much to go through in their arks. Of course the movie is about lost love and about family in general. But even those things are not mixed in the right mixture. There is either too much of something or too little of another thing. A shame that the talent and the massive effort on Tinas part does not really get the movie it would deserve.

Admission will make any Tina Fey fan very happy. She's at her best, displaying her very unique style of comedy so well, that you'd think she wrote the script. Paul Rudd might not be at his greatest but he definitively plays his role well. Wallace Shawn is excellent as the dean of admission with just the right tone. Lily Tomlin is also very good, as a very unique mother.

Nice humor, nice pace, good ideas, and just a little silly.

The main drawback is that at time, it feels a bit light. Some of the plot items could have been delved a little more to get a better perspective.

Overall, it's nice entertainment.