Graduation

Author: Pierre Davis

Location: Ohio

“Graduation”

Directed by Judd Apatow

Written by Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen

Based on the Novel by Charles Webb

Produced by Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Distributed by Columbia

Cast:

Michael Cera as Jeff Spencer

Allison Janney as Lisa Thomas

Lacey Chabert as Kailey Thomas

Kevin Kline as Frank Thomas

Seth Rogen as John Spencer

Ana Gasteyer as Francine Spencer

John C. Reilly as Paul Spencer

Tagline: After Graduation You Apply For The Real World.

Synopsis: Graduation
Jeff has just graduated from high school but he doesn’t know what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Hopefully he can be the first son from his family to be successful since his brother John chose to be a high school drop out instead and is climbing the ladder of success at the local Mexican owned restaurant “Hola”. When his parents, Paul and Francine Spencer, throw him a graduation party he begins to notice stares from his next door neighbor Lisa the only thing is Lisa is 20 years his senior. When Mrs. Lisa asks him to come and help her with the groceries one day Jeff sees this as just another task that Mrs. Lisa wants him to do but when he enters the house he notices that Mrs. Lisa has just went grocery shopping and the things that he is bringing in is sexy lingerie. At first Jeff tries to rush out of there as fast as he can but then Mrs. Lisa begs him to stay so she can put on a show to find out what would be the sexiest for he husband being a nice neighbor he decides to. When Mrs. Lisa comes down with the first get up she comes closer and closer to Jeff. Being uncomfortable he finds tries to rush out of there once again but Mrs. Lisa insists that he stays and she begins to kiss him. When she does this memories of Jeff’s fantasies about Mrs. Lisa when he was younger comes into his mind again but he denies them and rushes out the house. When the next day approaches his phone begins to ring when he picks it up it is Mrs. Lisa insisting that Jeff come over again so she can apologize for the other night. When Jeff goes over once again he sees that Mrs. Lisa is attempting to pull the same thing over again when he tries to leave this time the fantasies come back and he can not deny them. When they have sex Jeff sneaks out of the house.

Realization:

Jeff begins to avoid Mrs. Lisa for the following month until her beautiful daughter Kailey comes home from her first year of college. When he sees her he begins to realize he has feelings for a girl he has known for most of his life. Being shy at first he avoids talking to her just because of the fact that she does live with the woman who seduced him. When he finally gets enough guts to ask her out she accepts and they soon begin dating. When Jeff brings her home one night Mrs. Lisa asks to talk to him. Jeff notices that Mrs. Lisa has been gaining a few pounds way more than her normal tight bodied self. Mrs. Lisa reveals that she is pregnant and it is his. Jeff goes into shock and faints. When he awakes he is at home in his bed. Thinking it is a dream he goes next door to greet the love of his life but when Mrs. Lisa answers the door he finds out that the dream he thought he had was far from a lie.

Too Many Surprises For A Friday Night and For The Rest Of Your Life:

Mrs. Lisa tells him that she is going to keep it and comes up with an idea. She says that Jeff has nothing to worry about since her husband thinks that the baby is defiantly his. When Jeff finds this out a lot of pressure is lifted off of him. As the months roll by Jeff falls more in love with Kailey and he proposes to her. Mad and jealous when she realizes this Mrs. Lisa goes into a rage at their engagement party. She reveals to her whole family that she is pregnant with Jeff’s baby and then another shock comes when her Kailey reveals that she is also pregnant. In rage at the fact that he slept with her mother and did not tell her she decides to go back to school instead of taking a couple years off like she planned on. When she packs up her things and leaves for the airport Jeff’s stops her and pleads for her to stay. She denies and drives off. With Mrs. Lisa in the driveway 3 months pregnant Jeff takes one look at her and he runs to his car and start to follow his love not knowing if she will decide to leave or give in like Jeff has done for his whole life.

What the press would say:

Brilliant and unique. The director brings a graduate modern day spin to this story and it works on all cylinders. Every performance in this film is fantastic and the directing of the actors is above all else. The film itself is something special and nothing short of amazing. Michael Cera the breakout star of “Superbad and Juno” brings a performance of a lifetime. He brings a unique spin to this movie based on the film The Graduate. Michael brings a lot of depth to the character of Jeff Spencer than Dustin did with Ben Braddock and becomes one of the best characters seen in film in a long time. Although Mrs. Lisa is similar to Mrs. Robinson you really don’t see it at all in Allison Janney’s performance and brings a even more vulnerable role than the legend Anne Bancroft she also is fantastic in what looks to be a comeback role for her. Another person that has a breakout role in this film and could have plenty of buzz is Lacey Chabert who also starred in “Mean Girls”. She steals some scenes away from Michael and stood out in this wonderfully put together movie which is a big boost for her. She will be on a lot of best newcomers list and win awards. With solid performances from Seth Rogen who has one of the funniest scenes of the year when he tries to counsel his brother after he finds out he has a mother and daughter pregnant and also from Kevin Kline who plays the dimwitted husband and father to a tee. There is plenty of awards that could go to this type of film and should be on every ones top 10 list. The actors work as a team rather than individuals even though Michael Cera steals the show from the beginning. This film could surprise and show up at many awards ceremonies, depending on if people are in the laughing thinking mood.

FYC:

Best Picture: Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Best Director: Judd Apatow

Best Actor: Michael Cera

Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney and Lacey Chabert

Best Supporting Actor: Seth Rogen

Best Film Editing

Best Adapted Screenplay: Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen