Any respectable critic can savage or praise an Oscar contender or noisy sequel.
But this critic ties himself in knots reviewing films aimed at the tween set.
Notice I haven’t posted any Hannah Montana related reviews?
Some films aren’t aimed at a critic’s particular age demographic, but it’s still easy to tap into the crowd in question. I’m a long way removed from my high school days, but watching Ferris Bueller thwart his principal still resonates with me on some deep level.
But how should I respond to “Post Grad,” the recent comedy starring “Gilmore Girls” alum Alexis Bledel?
I did my best, and I think I came up with the film’s key strengths – and weaknesses. But a film like that is appealing directly to a set of emotions bubbling at the surface of today’s teens.
Even if I recall my own high school years those experiences are nothing like what today’s teens are experiencing.
Let’s face it. I wasn’t texting my buds 20 years ago or worrying about overstuffing my iPod.
Movies should still be judged by basic criteria – do the characters ring true? does the plot keep your attention? Is the acting credible?
But even the most eloquent reviews might not tap into the feeling a movie like “Post Grad” engenders in its target audience.
(Photo: Alexis Bledel and Zach Gilford talk it out in “Post Grad”/Fox Searchlight Films)
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Best thing you can do is see if there is anything there of entertainment value for an adult like yourself, and mention it in the review. That way you are at least performing a minor service for like-minded readers who are in the same boat.
The hardest films I review aren’t by genre, but by apathy. If I’m apathetic to a movie, usually a score in the 2-3 star range, I’m paralyzed.
My least favorite movies to review are those I loved… how do I pursuade others of my love? The easiest and most fun to review are those I hated. It’s like therapy.
You could review it through the eyes of your teen self, like “massawyrm” appears to have done at AintitCoolNews. This is how my brother would have described a chick flick – absolutely hillarious!