Accepted

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"When every college turned them down. . . they made one up."
  • PG-13
  • 2006
  • 1 hr 33 min
  • 6.4  (139,241)
  • 47

Accepted is a 2006 comedy film that revolves around high school senior Bartleby Gaines, played by Justin Long. As a slacker who didn't get into any colleges, but also dreads the idea of starting at a local community college, Bartleby finesses an elaborate scheme to create his own college -- called the South Harmon Institute of Technology (or SHIT, for short) -- where he and his friends can receive degrees without any bureaucracy or grading standards.

Bartleby constructs a fake acceptance letter to give to his parents to avoid disappointment, but after he sets up a website for the (fake) school, hundreds of other kids apply and end up arriving for the first day of classes. In a panic, Bartleby decides to let everyone in and make the school a reality, hiring a ragtag team of friends and stoners as faculty.

With some improvisation and creativity, Bartleby and the others manage to keep up the facade of a legitimate school, even as the students realize that their education is far from conventional. They don't have official courses or textbooks, but instead explore various subjects by pursuing their passions and interests. For example, one student has always wanted to learn to cook, so he sets up a kitchen in the SHIT student center and starts experimenting with different culinary techniques. Another student creates a war simulation game to teach others about history.

However, the makeshift community is threatened when Bartleby's secret is exposed and the SHIT students are faced with the prospects of being kicked out of their fake college. With the help of a sympathetic local politician and the intervention of some of the more responsible SHIT faculty members, Bartleby and his peers must rally together to save their institution and to keep alive their dreams of a future that doesn't involve traditional college routes.

The film was directed by Steve Pink and co-stars Jonah Hill as Bartleby's best friend Sherman Schrader, and Blake Lively as Monica Moreland, a love interest and the only one in the group with actual college experience. Alongside them are other renowned actors and comedians as Maria Thayer, Anthony Heald, Lewis Black, and Mark Derwin.

The movie truly explores the anxieties of high school students who are starting to feel that the traditional paths of college and career are not necessarily fulfilling or relevant to their interests. It paints a funny, affectionate portrait of what can happen when some clever teenagers decide to go off the beaten path and push the boundaries of what is possible. Overall, Accepted is a hilarious and inspiring ode to following your passions and creating your own opportunities.

Accepted is a 2006 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 47.

Accepted
Description
Where to Watch Accepted
Accepted is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at MAX GO, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Accepted for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2006
  • MPAA Rating
    PG-13
  • Runtime
    1 hr 33 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    6.4  (139,241)
  • Metascore
    47