Post Grad (2009)

Alexis Bledel shone in the seven years of Gilmore Girls (well, six, I don't think anyone came out of the seventh season strongly) so it was no surprise that people thought she was strong enough a talent to carry this movie.And to be fair, she is by far the best thing about this film. She's funny, she makes her character's story about life post uni, as well as dealing with a friend that wants to be more, relatable and true.Unfortunately when the focus moves away from this and onto to her family life the film falls apart. Every 'quirky' character trait the writers give the family is unfunny, and normally very reliable actors begin to chew scenery. Michael Keaton in particular is embarrassing in this film.Overall this is a film that's only good in places for this reason. It's a shame because Bledel works well with the limited material and needs more opportunities to show this obvious talent on the big screen.

Curvy and pretty Ryden Malby (Alexis Bledel), who comes from a decent family, has planned for her future since she was a young girl. Having worked hard in college for good grades, she is very confident that she will latch onto her dream job at the Happerman and Browning publishing house. But it is a bad omen when, on the day of her interview, her car is sideswiped by a hit-and-run stake body truck driver in downtown Los Angeles. And with no witness in such a busy area! Anyway, disheveled but not shattered Ryden somehow arrives to the interview on time, only to find almost a dozen applicants also applying for the same position. Worse for Ryden, her rival Jessica Bard (Catherine Reitman), the class valedictorian, is also there. Jessica walks away with the job as Ryden's world comes crashing down around her. Over the course of the next few weeks, reality becomes difficult as our heroine Ryden is unable to secure meaningful employment. Lacking funds, she is forced to vacate her new apartment to return home with her family. So, for most of the movie, the plot is centered on Ryden's frustration. Meanwhile Ryden has a boyfriend Adam Davies (Zach Gilford), a likable enough fellow, who loves to sing and play the guitar (not too well, though). Adam has applied to law school at Columbia University. in NY. Now the Ryden-Zach romance is the movie subplot to Ryden's job dilemma. But the denouement changes the movie direction and the ending is simply not inspiring. Along the way there are complications, like the potential romance with next door neighbor and cat-owner David (Rodrigo Santoro), to whom Ryden is obviously attracted. Taking away from the main plot, the screenplay relapses into such fluky comedy scenes like Grandma Maureen (Carol Burnett) shopping for her own coffin. Then there is daffy dad Walter (Michael Keaton) who decides to make a living selling belt buckles that he does not realize are stolen. It is almost as bad as the happenings at his shopping mall luggage concession where he forces a ludicrous bellhop costume upon poor Ryden. Another odd set is the son's unrelated soapbox car race; there is no purpose or amusement in showing the boy (Bobby Coleman) crashing into the pond. On a more positive note, the Malby family is certainly likable. In addition, the movie fortunately is without excessive swearing and gross- out scenes that seem to predominate nowadays. And Ryden Malby as the lead is not without talent although her script does her little justice. Michael Keaton as Walter Malby is fine as Ryden's unconventional father. He acts like those well-meaning but madcap dads of 1950s American television. Jane Lynch as Walter's wife Carmella has little to do. Carol Burnett, one of America's all-time greatest comediennes, plays wacky Grandma Maureen, who always has her oxygen tank in tow. She's OK, but is nothing like the old Carol Burnett. Overall the film is not among the worst of its kind and is bearable.

The fact that this film with the message of giving up everything for a guy came out in 2009 is crazy. It was disappointing to see Alexis Bledel in this movie. I was a fan of Gilmore Girls, so to see her in such a terrible film is disappointing.The amount of "lonely single woman" fear mongering done in the entertainment industry is ridiculous. The main character is in her early twenties on the hunt for her first post-college job. So far so good. Then things don't go as she planned, again okay. Then she gets the job, again okay. But then she gives up everything and moves across the county with no plan other than to be with a guy. What? Why? What year is this? The only worthwhile aspects of the film that are okay are Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett.

It's entertaining at first to watch what life is like after school. Just because you graduate from college doesn't mean you'll land a dream job, or any job at that, right away. So the main character finds the difficulties in life after college, OK I buy that. At the end she loses her boyfriend, but gets her dream job. That could happen I guess. After it's all said and done she quits her job to follow her boyfriend. At the age of 22, to throw your career/job away for a relationship is a horrible idea. If you're not happy by yourself what makes you think you'll end up being happy with someone else. Especially when you were together you weren't happy to begin with. For all the young seeking professionals out there, establish your life first! So she ran to New York to be with her boyfriend and quit her job. Doesn't she remember how hard it was to get the job in the first place?