“Post Grad” isn’t the movie where Alexis Bledel breaks out of her Rory Gilmore mold and shows her range. But I’m not complaining. I’ve pretty much been in love with Rory/Alexis since the first episode of “Gilmore Girls” aired in 2000. Bledel basically plays Rory again here, and she is just as gorgeous (only a bit more freckly) on the big screen as on the small.
Also, Zach Gilford plays a less-mumbly (but equally sleepy eyed) version of Matt Saracen from “Friday Night Lights.” Between the two of them, “Post Grad” has the cutest rom-com couple of the summer.
The story of a guy in love with his best girl friend (who only sees him as a friend, at least for the first 87 minutes), “Post Grad” seems like it was written by me, but it was actually penned by Kelly Fremon. She doesn’t break a lot of new ground, but the familiar ground is ground we like. The Malby family’s bonding is reminiscent of “Little Miss Sunshine,” and the “grand gesture” is reminiscent of many films of the genre, but in a nice twist, the girl does the gesturing this time.
What makes “Post Grad” notable is that Bledel’s character, the unlikely named Ryden Malby, is going through something pretty much all 2009 college graduates are going through. They busted their buns to get that piece of paper, and then … there are no jobs, anywhere. It’s a testament to Ryden’s resume that she even gets interviews.
Ryden goes through tons of awkward interviews, only to be beaten out by a classmate who looks 35 and has mastered the interview game (but, of course, she’s not so great on the job). That, of course, is the frustrating part of trying to get a job: You have the skills for the job, just not for the interview — and while they are different skill sets, many employers judge you on the latter.
Sometimes — as with the barely there little-brother subplot — it feels like “Post Grad” was churned out as soon as this dream cast got their schedules to match up. Master line-reader Jane Lynch plays the mom and Michael Keaton plays the dad. I like that they are both on their daughter’s side, rather than being yet another hurdle for her.
“Post Grad” is like your college years — you may not get your money’s worth, but you’ll have a few laughs. I definitely recommend it to Bledel fans, but then, they weren’t waiting for my recommendation.