Post Grad
Post to Twitter
The Story
Ryden Malby (Alexis Bledel) faces the after-college malaise that comes with trying to figure out what to do next with your life. Jobless, she’s forced to move back home with her off-the wall family, including her wacky dad (Michael Keaton), wackier grandma (Carol Burnett), even wackier little bro (Bobby Coleman), and perfectly sane mom (Jane Lynch).
Turned down for every serious job she pursues—and clueless to the fact that her best friend Adam (Zach Davies) is in love with her and waiting to see what she does before deciding to go to law school—Ryden flirts with her older Brazilian neighbor, tries working for her dad, and eventually realizes she’s going to have to make some hard choices for herself.
Content Issues
Ryden, 22, nearly has sex with the neighbor, 34, before her family walks in on them; both are shirtless, she’s in a bra. There’s a little sexual dialogue and some harsh language in the film, including the use of God’s name for swearing. A cat gets squished.
Worldview Talking Points
“Post Grad” is unlikely to make much of an impact at the box office—or on those who make the time to see it. It’s an unusually bland movie trying really hard to be warm and wacky. Students, though, may be attracted to the stars in the cast, including Bledel (“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Gilmore Girls”) and Davies (“Friday Night Lights”).
The worldview issues raised by the story are particularly relevant to older teens and college students facing an unpredictable future. Whether you see the film or not, it might be worth bringing up a few of the questions below if your child is closing in on the sometimes difficult transitions that come with moving into adulthood.
- Did you like “Post Grad”? Are you a fan of any of the members of the cast?
- Do you know what you’re hoping to study in college and/or do for a career? What do you think it will take to break into the career you’re interested in? Do you expect to change your mind, maybe, once or twice before figuring out what you’d like to try to do with your early adult life?
- In the movie, Adam was kind of waiting to see what Ryden would end up doing—and if she would come around and fall for him—to decide whether he would go away to law school or not. Do you know anyone who would base their plans for college or after-college on what a boyfriend or girlfriend (or even just a good friend) might do? Do you think that’s a wise idea? Why or why not?
- Ryden doesn’t want to, but she ends up having to move back home with her family while figuring out what she’s going to do next. Lots of kids end up moving back in with their parents for a while after college. Is that something you could see yourself ever doing? Why or why not?
- Do you think you would feel like a failure if you had to move back home after moving out? Why or why not?
- How would you define success for your life after high school or college? What are you hoping for most of all?
- Often, God radically changes our plans in unexpected ways—especially when we’re just starting out in life. Are you prepared to have Him do that in your life if He wants to? Do you believe that God is involved in helping make our plans—and helping us to unexpectedly change them?
- At one point in the film a character says that, “What you do in life is only half the story. Who you do it with is the more important half.” Do you believe that? Why or why not?
- What matters more to you in your life right now—doing really well at important things or spending time with people you really like? Why do you think that is? How can you balance those priorities?
- The Bible says that “bad company corrupts good character.” Do you think it’s worth doing exciting things—or making a lot of money—if you’re spending most of your time with people who influence you in unhelpful ways?
- Do you think you influence others—like the people you work or go to school with—in helpful ways? Are you “good company”?
- Proverbs says that “iron sharpens iron” in human relationships. What relationships do you have that force you to work to be a better person? What are some ways you can develop those kinds of relationships with people, especially as you move into new situations?
