Review of Admission (2013) by Kristy C — 11 Jan 2018

I had never heard of this movie, I was just looking for something to watch on Netflix and I enjoyed it tremendously. Then I turned to the reviews to see what other people thought and I was genuinely shocked. Were they watching a different movie?

Perhaps they were. I didn't know this was a comedy, I also didn't know that the reviews were overwhelmingly unfavourable, so I came to this movie with absolutely no preconceptions. I truly believe that the film's marketing team caused the damage by marketing this as a comedy. It's not. It's a drama with humorous moments. The story is totally original, not 'cookie cutter' as one other reviewer claims. It's also multi-layer, the characters each having their own personal battle. There are imaginative twists in the cinematography featuring some of the Princeton applicants. The ending is left slightly unresolved but that in itself is more satisfying than tying everything up in a big cheesy bow, there is, most of all, still hope.

Another reviewer mentioned the complete waste of Michael Sheen's talents. On this point, I have to agree, but the blame for that lies firmly at Michael Sheen's door and nobody else's. Maybe he had school fees to pay...

Tina Fey proves she can play more serious roles as well as comedy. Over all this was entertaining, well paced ( those who say it's boring must have fallen for the comedy label and were geared up to watch a different pace of movie, thus were doomed to disappointment), gently humorous, and original. In short, if you haven't seen it, watch it, but do so with an open mind.