A pleasant surprise. That seems to be the best way of describing my reaction to Accepted. I went into it with the low expectations that late summer releases generally deserve, a fact which may have influenced my positive reaction, but is not the whole story. The commercials gave me hopes of some mild comedy, and I tend to enjoy Justin Long's characters, for reasons I can't explain.
The movie turned out to be an interesting look at the state of our country's educational system, disguised as a high concept comedy, and targeted at the recent high school graduates preparing to enter the system of higher education. They couldn't have picked a better release if they tried. Now, how successful it will be at actually delivering on its message has yet to be seen.
Now, don't get me wrong, this is by no means a great movie, nor is the message that deep. Accepted survives on a high concept that works, and a story that is populated by likable characters. It is a movie for the outsider, all of those kids who think they are being left behind, those looking for a direction, those looking for a way to realize their hopes and dreams in a system that does not foster their chosen paths.
What starts out as a clever, yet highly unbelievable, ploy to garner parental unit approval, turns into a force of nature that aims to bring out the hidden abilities in everyone. The conflict is set up between the structure of the current system, classes, fraternities, boring lectures, hazing, and everything that goes with it, versus the free thinking individualists, those who listen to what you say and act upon that. Old school taking on new school, if you will.
Long plays Bartleby "B" Gaines, who just can't seem to catch a break. He's an outsider at school and rejected by all of the colleges he has applied to. There is one thing he happens to be good at, and that is spinning a credible web of BS at a moment's notice. He takes these skills, and those of his outsider friends, to create a fake school to fool their parents. Unfortunately, one of those friends is too good at his job and actually makes the school's website functional. That leads to a great influx of new students. Problems only get bigger when they draw the attention, and the ire, of the local "real" school.
Article comments
1 - DrPat
Thanks, Chris! I had been planning to miss this, figuring "it's a rental", but your review gives me hope. I think now I'll check it out in the theatres!