“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?” —Ben
Today’s quick review: The Graduate. The summer after his graduation from college, Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) strikes up an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), a friend of the family. The illicit relationship comes to a nasty end when Ben develops feelings for her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross), but the ghost of the affair threatens to undermine Ben’s more fulfilling relationship with Elaine.
The Graduate is a comedy about romance, purpose, and maturity. The Graduate follows Ben through an uncertain period in his life, as his own lack of direction leads him to pursue a dangerous relationship with an older woman. The style of comedy is indirect; the humor emerges naturally from the precarious situations Ben finds himself in, without scripted jokes or outrageous characters.
The Graduate is most notable for its characters. Ben Braddock is a relatable figure, an aimless college graduate with a nervous streak and a knack for asking the wrong questions. His early interactions with Mrs. Robinson are almost painfully awkward, but over the course of the movie he comes into his own. The man he becomes has his own set of flaws and hang-ups, but his growth is subtle and rewarding.
For her part, Mrs. Robinson is cold and domineering, but more vulnerable than she first lets on. Like Ben, she is a reserved character whose thoughts are often left to the viewer to infer. The two realistic leads make The Graduate an unusually grounded comedy that still captures the peculiarity of life. The tone of the movie is set by an excellent, if slightly overplayed, Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack.
Give The Graduate a shot if you are looking for something well-written, awkward, and insightful. The personal nature of the story and the lack of overt humor make The Graduate a dry watch compared to other comedies, but the movie’s characters and writing are strong enough to make it worthwhile. Skip it if you are looking for a more energetic comedy or a more traditional love story.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for interesting themes and plausible characters.