ADMISSION

Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Tina Fey: Princeton admissions officer Portia Nathan

Michael Sheen: her live-in boyfriend English professor Mark

Wallace Shawn: Portia’s boss Clarence, Dean of Admissions

Gloria Reuben: Portia’s associate Corinne

Paul Rudd: Director of New Quest John Pressman

Nat Wolff: one of the school’s students Jeremiah Balakian

Lily Tomlin: Portia’s mom Susannah

Travaris Spears: John’s adopted son Nelson

REVIEW

Certainly not the best movie of the year, but not the worst either. There are moments of real drama and inspired comedy but at other times it is beyond plausible.

Contrived situations stand out in large measure because they do not meet our expectations. Case in point: Portia is a very experienced highly regarded key member of a prestigious university yet she embarrasses herself at a student party. Perhaps we are supposed to giggle at this out-of-character behaviour? I’m sure if the writers tried harder they could come up with something better than that.

With the all-star cast this could have been a real winner. Could have.

CLASSIFICATION

for language, some sexual material.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• Portia’s pen on the left hand side of her desk moves about from one change of scene to another.
• This is one of my classic nitpicks: when Portia hangs up, John hears a dial tone. In reality the dial tone is only heard after picking up the phone before dialling. That’s why it’s called a dial tone.

P.S.

Autodidact: noun

A self-taught person