Post Grad (2009)

Directed by: Vicky Jenson

Premise: A hardworking but inexperienced college graduate (Alexis Bledel) tries to find some direction in her life when her post-graduation plans unravel.

What Works: Post Grad is an enjoyable, lighthearted comedy. Compared to many romantic comedies of late, this one shows a lot more creativity in its character work and there are some really strong performances in the supporting roles by Michael Keaton, Jane Lynch, J.K. Simmons, and Carol Burnett. In between the wackier scenes provided by the offbeat supporting cast, there are a few nice moments between Bledel’s character and her platonic best friend played by Zach Gilford that have some reality to them even if the best-friend-as-romantic-interest is cliché.

What Doesn’t: This is not an airtight movie, and Post Grad suffers from a wandering narrative that has a lot of subplots that aren’t connected or resolved. The main character has a few lapses in judgment that strain the film’s credibility and Post Grad feels a bit like an elongated episode of a television sitcom in its production value and its neat and tidy conclusion.

DVD extras: Featurettes, deleted scenes, a music video, and trailers.

Bottom Line: Although it is very uneven, Post Grad is a nice, inoffensive piece of entertainment. It isn’t going to rock anyone’s world but it is funny and sweet and worth a mild recommendation.