The term "classic" usually implies something special, oftentimes controversial, that not everyone can relate to. That is certainly true with The Graduate. While the music is legendary and Hoffmans performance beyond doubt the story is rather weak. Of course, I must add, that from a different era this might look different, too. But I have my doubts I would have liked this 50 years ago - had I lived then. And the classic label is attached much later anyway. At the bottom it is the story of a rich kid that doesn't know what do to with his live, or is afraid of the future as he puts it, that out of boredom and possible infatuation begins a romance with an older women. Then, out of the blue, falls in love with her daughter who, after finding out he hit on her mother, resents him. Of course the mother doesn't want him either at that point so he decides to stalk on the daughter who is supposed to marry someone else but isn't sure whom she wants. At the end Hoffmans character apears at the wedding and steels the bride and they both ran away from everything. That's an oversimplified summary of the plot that is woven around what was then called "generational conflicts". But to be honest why should you have any sympathy for the guy ? As I said at the beginning this isn't a movie for everyone - it certainly wasn't for me.
Review by FinFanBlockedParent2018-02-08T16:52:04Z
The term "classic" usually implies something special, oftentimes controversial, that not everyone can relate to. That is certainly true with The Graduate.
While the music is legendary and Hoffmans performance beyond doubt the story is rather weak. Of course, I must add, that from a different era this might look different, too. But I have my doubts I would have liked this 50 years ago - had I lived then. And the classic label is attached much later anyway.
At the bottom it is the story of a rich kid that doesn't know what do to with his live, or is afraid of the future as he puts it, that out of boredom and possible infatuation begins a romance with an older women. Then, out of the blue, falls in love with her daughter who, after finding out he hit on her mother, resents him. Of course the mother doesn't want him either at that point so he decides to stalk on the daughter who is supposed to marry someone else but isn't sure whom she wants. At the end Hoffmans character apears at the wedding and steels the bride and they both ran away from everything. That's an oversimplified summary of the plot that is woven around what was then called "generational conflicts". But to be honest why should you have any sympathy for the guy ?
As I said at the beginning this isn't a movie for everyone - it certainly wasn't for me.