DVD of the Week: Accepted

One of the beauties of the DVD format is that it provides counter seasonal selections for those tired of the latest go-round of cinema opportunities. It’s in the heart of autumn (the most pensive movie season of all) that we see the daffiest of summer comedies welcomed to rental locations everywhere. For anyone who is burned out from Oscar season think pieces (or those who simply don’t enjoy emotionally tumultuous films) I strongly recommend Accepted, a spirited comedy about a bunch of ragtag academic rejects that’s surely the brightest teen comedy in years. It’s not all that different than Animal House, Camp Nowhere, or more recent genre favorites such as American Pie, but this is still a wisecracking and shamefully funny silly movie. Its verbal blows against the cotemporary college system can be surprisingly sharp in their critiques, but really it’s the slapstick fun and the freewheeling energy that makes this a thoroughly enjoyable entry into the rebellious youth comedy canon.