Accepted

I will usually try to reserve my time invested in theater movies for those big action flicks that require the big screen or stars that have proven themselves.  Therefore, this choice was a little bit of a switch for me.  Fortunately, I had seen and heard that it was getting good reviews; plus, I already knew I wanted to see it anyway so I was good to go.

"Accepted" is the story of Bartleby Gaines, played by Justin Long, who has ambitions for an education beyond high school, even if it turns out not being legitimate by society's standards.  When he's rejected for the umpteenth time by even his safety net choice for a college, he decides to invent his own.  One thing leads to another and before you know it, the fake college worst kept secret with hundreds of similar kids wanting to be a part of it.

They couldn't have picked a better actor for this part.  Long's the classical supporting actor who's been stealing scenes now for flicks like "Galaxy Quest", "Dodgeball" and "Waiting..."  just to mention a few.  He finally deserved a shot to carry a movie.  Ironically enough, as good as he is here, it's someone else who pulls a Justin Long and steals every scene he's in .  No clue who Jonah Hill is, but he absolutely owned the movie as Sherman Schrader. 

As with any far-fetched comedy, "Accepted" wasn't without its inconsistencies.  Like how improbable it would be for the parents of well over 300 would-be losers to pay for 4-years of college tuition up front having only seen a website of the school.  And the "Animal House" inspired school board scene at the ending was a bit much.  Still, there was more than enough in between to make it up for it.

My Rating:  B

Comments

[Mike]

OK, I haven't seen the movie, but I've got beef. This gets a B, but "Clerks II" gets a B-?!?!!!

This looks like it should be direct-to-video. I'm sticking to my belief that you gave "Clerks II" a biased review.

[Stan]

I couldn't get past the fact that 30 years later and those two guys acting hadn't gotten ANY better?!