Review of Admission (2013) by Jeff B — 15 Apr 2013

An Admission of guilty pleasure at times, Tina Fey's latest cinematic venture doesn't make the honor role but a solid 'C' gains it a letter of acceptance. When H'Wood usually focuses on higher education, it takes dead aim at the Valhallan extracurricular activity known as partying. Here, however, the material proves more Paper Chase than Animal House...and not in a stuffy manner either. Rather, Admission is more higher minded about higher education, even if it still checks off some formulaic boxes before commencement. The flick doesn't always juggle romantic comedy, workplace comedy, and family comedy with great ease either, but the leads' awesome chemistry deserves high honors.

In this PG-13-rated romantic comedy from director Paul Weitz (In Good Company), a straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer (Fey) makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate (Rudd), who has surmised that a gifted yet very unconventional student might well be the son that she secretly gave up for adoption.

Truly, Tina Fey tends to get a pass from this reviewer. But boy, has she earned it. Even when her comedies don't generate a ludicrous amount of belly laughs (Baby Mama) or pride themselves on being a disposable but fun piece of popcorn (Date Night), her natural beauty, always spot-on performance and - in some cases - gift of prose betray a wit and wisdom for the H'Wood ages. Together with Paul Rudd, a long-underrated comic actor who's finally getting his due, it's the perfect setup for an often well-played - but not exactly uproarious - comedy.

Bottom line: Flirty Rock.