6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A high school slacker who's rejected by every school he applies to opts to create his own institution of higher learning, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, on a rundown piece of property near his hometown.
Starring: Justin Long, Jonah Hill, Adam Herschman, Columbus Short, Maria ThayerComedy | 100% |
Teen | 23% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Recently, backroom whispers have turned to a more mainstream shift in thinking about the true value of a college education. Accepted begins as its main character cannot get into any college, and he tells his disappointed parents that maybe the smart financial move is for him to enter the work force fresh out of high school and start earning money and experience rather than spend several years of salary on the degree. What was a joke in 2006 is becoming an increasingly viable option in 2021. While the shift has been more subtle than seismic, the outrageous tuitions and the high price of living, not to mention the decreasing value of a college education (particularly in the liberal arts), has made many begin to believe more in the value of an honest trade and less everything that is involved in earning that diploma. Accepted focuses less on the value of college and more its generalized importance as a perception of advancement and success, and it does so in a humorous way. The picture is fun and lively and in some ways prescient about the shifting cost-benefit analysis of a college education.
Mill Creek's rock-solid Blu-ray release of Accepted looks quite nice and helps -- if even just a little bit -- to assuage the sting of the studio's other miserable looking January catalogue titles (The Freshman, Like Father Like Son, and to a lesser extent Crossroads). Accepted was shot on film and the transfer retains a natural grain structure. It's light, organic, and complimentary, helping to bring the movie in its natural state to the screen. Details satisfy across the board. The picture is sharp and pleasing, revealing every core element -- faces, clothes, and the makeshift school -- particularly in its dilapidated state -- with effortless sharpness and definition. Colors are bold and the palette is well saturated. The image is lively start to finish. Clothes pop off the screen with impressive dynamic depth. Natural greens are bold, skin tones ae healthy, and black levels are deep. There are practically no signs of print damage and no obvious encode shortcomings beyond a light noisy looking background at a frat party at the 51-minute mark. For this one, Mill Creek delivers. Fans are going to be very happy.
Accepted earns high marks for its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation accommodates all needs with well rounded audio definition. Music plays with natural, effortless width. Detail is strong through the range and sound elements fold into the rear channels in fine balance. The low end is not worked hard in most instances (a burst of Hard Rock music in the 59-minute mark being a notable exception), but its musical support is integral, even if somewhat light. Some "action" effects -- big splashes into water, an explosion in a kitchen -- enjoy a modest low end extension and plenty of stage-filling vigor. Light atmosphere is in short supply, but rowdy crowd din at a concert at the 60-minute mark is not at all wanting for more organic, filling, and detailed crowd immersion. Dialogue delivery is clear and well prioritized. It's firmly positioned in the front-center speaker.
Accepted contains an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and featurettes. No DVD or digital copies are included with
purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
Accepted earns a passing grade for building a more than serviceable entertainer. The movie is witty and even a little smart, well balanced, and not so perverse as to lose sight of its story. Mill Creek's Blu-ray is very sound, delivering quality video and audio presentations and a perfectly healthy allotment of bonus content. Recommended.
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