Skip to content

Menu 1

  • Home
  • About
  • The Archives
  • EVERYBODY IS STILL A SUSPECT: A LOOK BACK AT SCREAM
  • Home Releases – New on BluRay, DVD, and Streaming
  • Twin Cities Live
  • Interviews with the Cast and Crew
PAUL'S TRIP TO THE MOVIES

Movie Review: ADMISSION

By Paul McGuire Grimes
On March 26, 2013
In Movie Reviews
Tagged Admission, Gloria Reuben, Lily Tomlin, Michael Sheen, Paul Rudd, Paul Weitz, Tina Fey, Wallace Shawn

ADMISSION
Director: Paul Weitz
Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Lily Tomlin, Wallace Shawn, Gloria Reuben, Michael Sheen

“Just be yourself” seems to be the motto of Portia Nathan (Fey). Portia is an admissions officer at Princeton University and that is her pitch and words of advice to all of the incoming prospects who are desperate to get in. Portia’s life seems to be a bit in shambles. Her boyfriend, Mark (Sheen), has left her with no notice for a snooty Virginia Woolf scholar. She is battling her coworker (Reuben) for a promotion after her boss (Shawn) announces his pending retirement. On top of that, her relationship with her mother, Susannah (Tomlin), is not the greatest.

During one of her recruiting trips, she pays a visit to New Quest School. New Quest is pretty non-traditional in every sense of the word. It seems to be in the middle of the woods like a summer camp. There should be no surprise when the GPS in Portia’s car loses signal before she arrives on site. There she reconnects with John Pressman (Rudd) a former classmate who now runs New Quest. He presents to her Jeremiah, one of his most gift students who would like to attend Princeton. John believes that Jeremiah may be the child that Portia had in school but gave up for adoption.

Does the story seem kind of ho-hum so far? Admissionis another example of the kind of movie where the actors make the movie what it is and are the only reason to see it. There is really nothing all that special about the story. The plot is weak and wanders all around the troubles of Portia’s life. When you think of Fey and Rudd, you expect lots of quirky moments and good laughs along the way. The script is not all that funny. I was surprised to find it to be more of a dramedy that your standard witty comedy those two are typically associated with doing. I have been a fan of both of them for years and years and applaud them for trying something a little different. It may surprise you to find out that this is their first project together. They are both strong enough actors and have great chemistry together that they keep you moderately interested despite the many flaws with the film. Tomlin and Shawn are comedic veterans so it is always a treat seeing them on screen. If you are a fan of Fey, Rudd, or Tomlin you will enjoy the movie but do not be surprised if you come out wanting more.

RATING: *** (3 out of 5 stars)

2013-03-26
Previous Post: Movie Review: WRECK-IT RALPH
Next Post: THE LSO VOICE: THE WORST MOVIE EVER?

Follow Me on Social Media!

Twin Cities Live 1/15/21 – News of the World, Promising Young Woman, One Night in Miami

https://youtu.be/2nWPI9SjyAg

Movie Reviews

One Night in Miami - 4.5 Ticket Stubs, Amazon Prime
Pieces of a Woman- 4 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
Promising Young Woman - 4.5 Ticket Stubs, In Theaters, OnDemand
Sylvie's Love - 4 Ticket Stubs, Amazon Prime
Wonder Woman 1984 - 4 Ticket Stubs, In Theaters, HBO Max
Soul - 4 Ticket Stubs, Disney+
News of the World - 4 Ticket Stubs, In theaters, On Demand
The Midnight Sky - 3.5 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - 4.5 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
I'm Your Woman - 4 Ticket Stubs, Amazon Prime
The Prom - 4 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
Let Them All Talk - 3.5 Ticket Stubs, HBO Max
Ammonite - 2 Ticket Stubs, Video OnDemand
SuperIntelligence - 4 Ticket Stubs, HBO Max
Happiest Season - 4 Ticket Stubs, Hulu
Sound of Metal - 5 Ticket Stubs, Amazon Prime

Streaming TV Reviews

WandaVision - 4 Ticket Stubs, Disney+
The Mandalorian Season 2 - 4.5 Ticket Stubs, Disney+
The Crown Season 4 - 4.5 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
The Haunting of Bly Manor - 4.5 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
The Last Dance - 5 Ticket Stubs, Netflix
Dead to Me Season 2 (2020) - 4 Ticket Stubs, Netflix

Now Streaming: I’M YOUR WOMAN (Amazon Prime)

https://youtu.be/JUAWR11dIwA

Tom Hanks Interview – “News of the World”

https://youtu.be/LjqC2fDG304

“Beautiful Boy” Q&A with Timothée Chalamet & Nic Sheff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIPQIu04c9Q

Archives

  • Retrospectives
    • THE DC EXTENDED UNIVERSE
    • MARVEL
      • Marvel Cinematic Universe-Phase Three
      • Marvel Cinematic Universe-Phase Two
      • Marvel Cinematic Universe-Phase One
      • X-MEN
    • Stand By Me (1986)
    • The Bond, James Bond Challenge
    • “HALLOWEEN” RETROSPECTIVE
    • EVERYBODY IS STILL A SUSPECT: A LOOK BACK AT SCREAM
  • Interviews with the Cast and Crew
  • Home Releases – New on BluRay, DVD, and Streaming
  • The Archives
  • RETROPSPECTIVES

Designed using Chromatic. Powered by WordPress.