Post Grad directed by Vicky Jenson

Going in to the film I had a mind free of all preconceived notions and was pleasantly surprised. While Post Grad was undeniably predictable, many scenes made up for the overall uninteresting plotline. Ryden Malby (Alexis Bledel) is forced back home to live with her eccentric family after her life basically crumbles. From early on she had her goals planned out, and upon graduating college she thought she was going to land a job at the hottest publication company in California. However when she realizes her life may not meet the pivotal reqirements as she hoped, Ryden is forced to come to terms with the fact that real happiness is “not just where you are in life, it’s who you’re with”.

While the script fits everything a typical romantic comedy is, what surprised me were the comedic performances by the supporting cast. Carol Burnett plays the crazy grandma everyone secretly wishes they had, and provides laugh after laugh between the static storyline gaps. Michael Keaton uncharacteristically brings a hilarity to every one of his scenes, including those intended to be more sentimental.  Overall the witty one-liners and jaw-dropping comedic bits provide redemption for the same old sappy love lost, love found romantic movie.

The cast’s chemistry pulls together a story we’ve all seen before but adds the one thing that can make or break a movie of it’s kind: believablility. We all know what it’s like to have a family that has an innate ability to embrass us, and it’s nice to be able to laugh at someone else’s compications no matter how different they may be than our own. Beneath the chuckles and kisses, Post Grad educates the audience in a life where love and family take precedence over materialistic successes. I give the film 2 ½ stars (out of 4).

Angela Robledo-Cooper City High School

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