While the fourth season of NBC’s “30 Rock” was arguably its weakest, one of the highlights was Michael Sheen’s four episode arc as Wesley Snipes – Liz Lemon’s boyfriend who she kind of hated. So for anyone who enjoyed seeing Tina Fey and Michael Sheen together as a couple on screen will be pleased to hear that they’ll be together once again in “Admission.”
Paul Weitz’s (“About a Boy,” “Little Fockers”) comedy will follow an unmarried college admissions counselor (Fey) who strikes up a romance with an old school friend (Paul Rudd), despite being in a relationship with her stiff British boyfriend (Sheen). As much as we like the idea of these two actors on screen together again, it doesn’t immediately sound like the best vehicle to us. Weitz’s output since “About a Boy” has been far from prolific, and it sounds like Sheen will yet again be wasted as an unlikable British chump who serves as little but a barrier to our protagonist’s happiness.
Still, at least the comedic talent being lined up on-screen is good. Fey (alongside Steve Carell) proved she could elevate lackluster material into something passably funny on “Date Night,” while you know you’re going to get something good from Sheen no matter how flimsy the role. And as for Paul Rudd….well Paul Rudd is Paul Rudd, and he’ll deliver one of the two performances he always does. “Admission” is eyeing a May shoot in New York. [THR]
"Weitzâs output since âAbout a Boyâ has been far from prolific"
I'm not sure you understand what "prolific" means.
The book is not "comedic," and the boyfriend is not an "unlikeable chump." Can't imagine how much the script has changed from the book, but the book is more tragic, actually, than anything else. Interesting insight into college admissions though.