Review 1 – “Admission” by Molly Rector
Reading a synopsis of Admission, starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, it might seem like a film that stretches itself too thin – but overall, this is a dramedy that defies its (relatively few) cliché moments and pokes self-conscious fun at the stereotypes into which its characters fit.
Tina Fey plays Portia Nathan, a Princeton University admissions officer, whose perfectly organized and predictable life is quietly falling apart. Paul Rudd plays John Pressman, the director of a socially liberal alternative school who can’t seem to stay in one place. John and his adopted son, Nelson, travel the world working on various praiseworthy projects. The drama of the film unfolds around Jeremiah, a gifted “autodidact” with a very poor transcript, who John believes is the son Portia gave up for adoption when she was in college.
At heart, Admission is a smart satire about parenting. This theme is present in every relationship – it is present in Portia’s troubled relationship with her own mother (and John’s with his), in Nelson’s rebellion against his father, in Portia’s failed relationship with her boyfriend Mark, and even in the admissions process itself: Portia opines that parents believe that the colleges their kids get into are the sum judgment of their parenting skills.
This is, without a doubt, the thing I liked best about the film. The effect was subtle – there are threads of parenting commentary that I’m only now realizing were there, a couple of days after seeing the movie. There was very little moralizing in the film – when Portia sees that Nelson is struggling with being constantly moved around the world, she doesn’t run immediately to John and tell him that he’s damaging his child, instead, she gives Nelson an understanding gift – a fossil that stayed in the same place for 15 million years – and lets the two figure things out on their own.
Sure, there were some predictable moments – who didn’t know that John Pressman and Portia Nathan would have some sort of romance? It’s obvious from the beginning. And some moments that were hard to believe – would Portia’s mother (perfectly cast Lily Tomlin) really come around to the “mother-daughter role-playing” she so despises after one single conflict with her daughter? Probably not. But overall, it was nice to see a film where only a few things fell snugly into place, with an ending that left room for a few questions.
Admission was sweet without being sappy, and it managed to keep straight a few plot lines that could have easily gotten tangled. It also had some laugh-out-loud funny moments, though in general the comedy was subtle. I wouldn’t say that it’s an instant classic, or even that it would be essential to see in theaters, but if you’re looking for some good entertainment that doesn’t fit too perfectly in a traditional film narrative structure (while still not venturing too far), I’d absolutely recommend it.
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Review 2 – “The Hobbit” by Jay Edwards
I’d hope you think you are in for a treat this week, getting Molly and me as reviewers in a “2 for 1” special. Our normally dependable guy in this corner, David, decided for a little R and R. (Wonder if he’s at a movie right now?)
So last Sunday I stayed by the warm fire (what Spring?) and dialed into Apple TV to watch Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit.” I know, David already told you about it, where he informed us all that it took two viewings before he could give it a thumbs up.
I liked it too, but on the first attempt.
But I am a Middle Earth junkie. So to say I had been anticipating Bilbo’s out and back again would be sort of like saying Gollum likes gold rings.
Then, just when it was about to premier, in the instant info age we find ourselves blurring through, the reviews started coming in. And, as you probably know, they were not very Lord of the Ringish.
A 65 percent on Rotten Tomatoes!
So by the time I read David’s review I had become like the dwarf who has the blind date with an elf – less than enthusiastic.
But perhaps that is why I loved “The Hobbit,” about as much as I loved LOTR 1,2,3 - because my expectation had sunk so low.
If you haven’t seen it yet my precious, do so. And if you have, well, the second time worked for David.
Hey this was kind of fun. Maybe we should steal this spot, huh Molly?