POST GRAD

US, 2009, 88 minutes, Colour.
Alexis Bleydell, Zack Gilford, Michael Keaton, Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett, Rodrigo Santoro.
Directed by Vicky Jenson.

Vicky Jenson was a co-director of Shrek and has worked extensively in animated films. Which may or may not be a strong qualification for directing live-action. In hindsight, this film has many cartoonish qualities. It is amusing while there but is the lightest of the light in terms of characters and situations.

Advertising might suggest that this is one of those ever-recurring teen comedies that are often tiresome and, very often, crass. It is not. Rather, it echoes the employment situations of recent years where college graduates find it very difficult to find a job for their qualifications. That being said, this is not a serious analysis of the times by any means.

Alexis Bledel starred in numerous episodes of TV's The Gilmore Girls and has some strong film credits as well. Here she is in the Elle Wood tradition (though not blonde) of ingenuously charming blends of airhead and shrewdness (airhead often taking over). She graduates and spends most of this short (85 minutes) film looking for a job and mixing it with pratfall comedy, insensitive to the neighbour who loves her (Zach Gilford), falling for the TV commercials director next door (Rodrigo Santoro looking the exact opposite of his elaborate appearance as Xerxes in 300).

However, one reason for looking at the film is the cast for the family. Michael Keaton is back in his old form of zany comedy (though with the touch of middle age) as the oddly inventive father. Jane Lynch does her fine deadpan as the mother. And who should turn up for some sardonic remarks, reminding us of her good old days on television sketches, but Carol Burnett?

Pleasantly harmless froth.

1.A satisfying light comedy?

2.The family, home life, the shop, business world, college? The commercial set? Los Angeles and the beach? The realism?

3.The musical score, the songs?

4.The title, expectations? Realistic concerning jobs, opportunities, demands, people unemployed, the loss of morale?

5.The opening, Ryden and her computer, communication, information, photos, the elaboration of her plans, her life marked out for herself? Career?

6.Ryden and her age, her love for reading, study, the degree in literature, the build-up to the graduation? The graduation ceremony, Jessica barred and her giving the speech? The family arriving, awkward and disturbing, Ryden’s embarrassment? Going to her job interview, with Adam, her friendship with him? The crash, Adam and his reaction, hurrying to the interview, waiting, filling in the form, seeing Jessica go in? The interview itself and its brevity, her putting on a brave front, the show?

7.Not getting the job, the range of searches, the papers, talking with Adam, her father and his suggestions, the importance of the family car – and his delay in getting hers fixed? Her mother driving her? The range of faux pas with the various interviews, trying to be pleasing, misjudging situations and characters?

8.Adam, a good friend, his love for Ryden? Talking? Whether to study law or not, his tense relationship with his father, seeing his father and Juanita in the shop? His love for music, the promise of the gig, his unrequited love, Ryden and her friendship with the neighbour? His plan, the performance, Ryden not going, hurt, ignoring her, his decision to go to Columbia?

9.The family and their weird touches? The grandmother, her physical support, wisecracks? Carmela and her toughness, Hunter and his eccentricities, chewing, the fangs…? Dad and his inventions, the shop, Ryden with the job, trying to sell the goods (and the interview with Jessica, her not buying the case)? The issue of the buckles, buying them on the sly, the real inventor turning up, the argument, his being arrested, going to jail? The bail? His mother paying?

10.The cat from next door, the man next door, the accidental killing of the cat, Ryden and her going over to announce the news, her father’s bluntness? The burial and the song from T.S. Eliot, Memories? The consolation, the sexual attraction, the neighbour giving Ryden the job, going to the TV commercial, its being botched, the director resigning? Their going to the beach? Ryden forgetting to go to Adam’s gig?

11.The grandmother, the long sequence with the examination of the coffins, Ryden breaking one and the consequences?

12.Ryden happy and unhappy, ringing Adam, wanting to reconcile? Jessica and her high-handed behaviour, getting the job? Ryden going to New York, jealous of the woman – and making a rash judgment? Reconciliation with Adam – and the finale with the prospect of the family coming to visit?

13.An amusing concoction, the director and her work in animation, a cartoonish human comedy?