While "Accepted" seems a bit "familiar" to other similar theme films like "Animal House" and "Van Wilder," it has its own hilarious identity that has all the makings of a yet another revered college classic.
After numerous schools including his "reliable standby" state reject him, fast-talking Bartleby (Justin Long, "Dodgeball") decides that he can’t take disappointing his parents any longer and does what any reasonable soon-to-be unemployed high school student would do - he creates his own college.
Some comedies have these outrageous plots that sound funny but aren’t thought out or executed well enough to live up to the potential.
"Accepted" not only reaches its potential, it raises the bar for future "college mayhem" genre films.
With the assistance of his best friend Sherman ("Click’s" Jonah Hill who with his frizzy white-Afro resembles a younger Horatio Sanz) Bartleby creates his school – the South Hampton Institute of Technology. The screenwriters get a lot of mileage out of the acronym but it surprisingly remains consistently funny throughout instead of being a one-time joke that gets a little more annoying with use subsequent use.
Bartleby and his other college-rejected friends soon realize they have to put a bit more effort into their charade and set up their college at an abandoned mental institute where Sherman gets off an especially great line in this scene - "I hope you all have hobo staff insurance."
While they manage to fool their parents into thinking their school is legit, the joke’s on Justin and company as they find that several other college outcasts, including an Attention Deficit Disorder student, an ex-stripper and would-be pyrokenetic have received acceptance letters and want in.
Rather than owning up that the school is a sham, Bartleby and friends decide to make their fake school legit complete with unique classes such as "Faking It" "Doing Nothing" and my personal favorite "Wing-Maning it."
Lewis Black ("The Happy Elf") steals the film with his near-manic portrayal of a burnt-out former school administrator Bartleby hires to serve as the dean. His conspiracy-laden diatribes about the real purpose of college – to create more consumers – makes for some of the film’s best scenes.
Steve Pink makes a strong directorial debut as he keeps the film engaging from start to finish without the tediously boring moments that plaque many teen comedies. He creates an environment of a really fun place to hang out, much less attend school.
Amidst all of the wacky proceedings Screenwriters Adam Cooper, Bill Collage and Mark Perez provide an interesting commentary on the real-life college experience and it’s actual benefits to students yet done in a fashion where it’s thought-provoking not preachy.
The story doesn’t really allow for it, but Hill could have used some more screen time as the guy makes the most of all of his scenes and is just very funny. After playing second fiddle in "Dodgeball," Long makes for an easy to relate to lead
As key with any successful comedy, the film’s best moments are not wasted in the trailer. I’d even argue that the trailers doesn’t do justice to how funny the movie really is, presenting it as your run-of-the-mill teen comedy.
The only real misstep is Bartleby’s friend Glen (newcomer Adam Herschman) plays the standard stoner character but he just seems tossed in to satisfy teen cliché quota and doesn’t get any funny moments until the film is nearly over. I’d happily have traded some of Glen’s screen time for Sherman.
"Accepted" won’t have a hard time winning you over as it’s the best film of its ilk since the fantastic "Van Wilder." If you’re in the mood for a very funny, silly comedy head on over to the registration line…er ticket line. Unlike some college experiences, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.