Tina Fey plays an admissions official at Princeton University. Paul Rudd plays a nomadic teacher at an alternative high school. Rudd hopes Tina Fey will help an unusual student get into Princeton. Fey has admissions of her own: her troubled relationship with her mother (played by Lily Tomlin), her unfaithful lover, and her college secret. One of the friends I saw Admission with commented after the movie: “I thought it would be funnier.” The chemistry between Tina Fey and Paul Rudd is real. But the script doesn’t do much with that chemistry. Admission is based on a novel, but I suspect plenty of changes were made. GRADE: B-
We have seen the promos for this for over a year, I think. When they couldn’t come up with a good joke or two for the promos, we thought this might be the case. Wasted talent here.
Patti, there was plenty of potential in ADMISSION. Good cast and what could have been a very funny situation. But the movie couldn’t make up its mind whether to be flat-out funny or serious. It ended up being neither.
The words “Starring Paul Rudd” tell me that this won’t be my kinda movie. Rudd’s on-screen persona (a boy-man, inexplicably loved by all females in his orbit and just as inexplicably forgiven by them for any number of transgressions) has become so ingrained as a pop culture trope, I suspect he would have trouble getting a part that played against that type. Anyway, this movie looks utterly tedious and a scene where Fey and Rudd bond over a birthing cow sealed the deal for me: I won’t be looking for admission to this movie!
Deb, you’re right about the birthing cow scene. It was just a set-up for the shower scene between Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. But, Tina and Paul do have chemistry on the screen. But it’s not enough to save ADMISSION.
It still must have been better than CHUPACABRA VS. THE ALAMO.
I’m sure I’ll catch CHUPACABRA VS. THE ALAMO on one of the endless re-runs, Bill. As for ADMISSION…the things we do for Love…
But CHUPACABRA VS. THE ALAMO was educational, Bill!
Who knew they could leap through the air or grab a fully grown man by the ankle and toss him over a goalpost? I sure didn’t. And who knew Travis really did have an underground escape tunnel at the Alamo (why didn’t he use it?) that was missing for 177 years but easily found in less than five minutes of searching by a nerdy tour guide?
I think Erik Estrada needs to back away from the black hair dye, and the dining room table.
I’m not surprised ADMISSION got poor to mediocre reviews. I agree with Deb on Paul Rudd – I know I’m not a woman but I don’t see his charm – and even though I like Tina Fey a lot this looked stupid. I’d like to see Lily Tomlin as her mother, however.
Lily Tomlin is pretty much wasted in ADMISSION, Jeff. And most of the cast is wasted, too. A lame script and a lack of humor really sunk this movie.
By all accounts, Travis was killed at the start of the final assault by a bullet to the head.
I have no plans to see Admissions. Never did.
And in sports, now that the Zags have choked again, I guess I’ll start rooting for the Ducks. Not that care an awful lot.
The Ducks should make the FINAL FOUR, Bob.
I doubt Ducks can beat Louisville. I like Fey but doesn’t sound like I’d like her in this one.
Rick, Tina Fey and the other talented cast members are wasted in ADMISSION. Dull and predictable.