I’ve recently experienced the crap shoot that is the college admissions process, though it did not– unfortunately– involve either Tina Fey or Paul Rudd. They would have made it infinitely more entertaining as they do here in ADMISSION, an engrossing, quirky comedy that is flawed but is among the better candidates for a movie outing during the cinematic dry season typical to this time of year.

Tina plays admissions officer Portia (as in Shakespeare’s heroine) Nathan determining who shall pass through to the hallowed halls of number one ranked PRINCETON. 99% of applicants will NOT get in. Even if they speak 7 languages, play Rachmaninoff while explaining string theory, and are the offspring of pygmies. They gotta be REALLY special– and Portia will ferret them out.

Enter Paul Rudd as John Pressman, a pretty rare specimen himself. Headmaster of Quest, an alternative school in New Hampshire where kids get hands on experience doing everything from analyzing farm metrics to birthing calves; he’s also the handsome, charming single father of an adopted a child from Uganda, and travels the world installing water purification systems in underdeveloped countries. When Portia and John collide it’s only a matter of time before their underlying chemistry makes its way to the surface of a complicated relationship.

Portia’s mother–played by Lily Tomlin– is an old-time, gun toting feminist who got pregnant with Portia on a train and never looked back. She’s not exactly the “nurturing” type and when Portia turns up unexpectedly at home, she finds her mother (who insists Portia call her Susan) fixing a bicycle in the kitchen and suggests Portia pick some kale out back for supper. The plot thickens when John invites her out to dinner– and has a secret to share.

Many reviews have repeated the secret that the trailer gives away– and it’s a real spoiler. This plot point also leads the film in surprising directions that kept me hooked and ultimately lead Portia and Paul to figure out what they really want, what they are missing, and what makes them happy. The laughs are steady but subtle–great dry delivery from Tina, and hilarious reactions from the ultra adorable Rudd; Unfortunately, the writing isn’t sharp enough to make make these characters really pop, and the many subplots work: Portia’s mom and a Russian scholar, Portia’s competition with another admissions officer that fizzles,  an interminable admissions process scene, and an ending that’s a tad sad.

But I cared enough about Portia and John, to see what happened to them. And yes, I’m starved for a good film– so this one for me right now — was worth the price of admission.