Review: Accepted (C+)

Accepted (C+)
Directed by Steve Pink
Starring Justin Long, Jonah Hill, Adam Herschmann, Lewis Black and Blake Lively
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: C+

Review by Mark Focus

In Accepted, Justin Long, best known as the "Mac Guy" from the Apple ads stars as Bartleby, a high school senior that can't get accepted in college. Instead of going back to the drawing board, digging in and making something of himself, he decides to build a fake college and tell his folks that he is going there. His loser friends (who also can't get in to college" join the hoax and tell their folks the same.

Is Accepted a comedy classic? Not by a long shot. But it does have its moments. Lewis Black shows up in a fairly funny role as the foul mouthed, straight shooting Dean of the South Harmon Institute of Technology. Black basically tells everyone that they are wasting their time going to a "real" school and that the fake one at least gives them some chance to be creative. He actually makes a good point. Anyway, Accepted is silly, formulaic and at times, a little stupid. But it does move at a nice clip. It has its heart in the right place and it also gets in a few good laughs.

Accepted is a silly film that won't change the world. But it does get in a few mindless laughs. And sometimes that's all you need.