Long plays Bartleby, a Ferris Bueller-type high school student with plenty of ingenuity but a lack of seriousness when it comes to studies. He's applied to many a college and has been summarily rejected by all of them. Mommy and Daddy are not amused, telling him he is going to college or else. Bartleby uses his computer to create a false school's admission letter and shows it to his dad (Mark Derwin), creating a potentially catastrophic lie.
An admission letter isn't enough (Dad wants more proof), so Bartleby enlists the help of best friend Sherman (a scene-stealing Jonah Hill) in creating a credible Web site. Dad likes the look of the site, gives his son a big check for the first year's tuition and tells Bartleby he looks forward to dropping him off. This, of course, means that a location for the fictitious school must be found, so Bartleby and some other college rejects find a dilapidated former mental-health facility, do some massive cleaning (although they refuse to touch the bathroom) and get ready for the start of the fake semester.
The deception doesn't stop there, because Dad wants to meet the dean, so Bartleby and friends recruit a shoe salesman and former educator (Lewis Black) to stand in. Finally, Bartleby foolishly requested a functional Web site, and Sherman created just that, so kids have been applying online, getting accepted and paying their tuition in droves. The South Harmon Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T.) is born, and the students are ready to party.
The premise is ridiculous, sort of like those crappy but endearing '80s films starring John Cusack (Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer) that moved forward despite their plots, thanks to fun lead and supporting performances. In fact, Long, in some instances, has a charm similar to Cusack, firing off dialogue in a rambling manner that reminds of Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything. (John's sister, Ann Cusack, plays Bartleby's mom, so the movie boasts a Cusack connection.) Long's youthful exuberance and looks completely hide the fact that he's 28 years old, a full decade older than the character he is playing.
There are some big laughs, many of them involving Hill's Sherman and the tribulations he endures as he tries getting into a fraternity at a legitimate college. Hill gets the film's biggest laugh when a body falls from the ceiling during renovations, and he lets out a lengthy, wussy scream. The film's first three quarters actually boast a consistent giggle factor thanks to Long and Hill. Black gets a couple of decent laughs as the insane dean, and young Hannah Marks scores a couple as Bartleby's scheming little sister.
When the movie becomes less about the fun sophomoric humor and more about Bartleby and friends trying to get South Harmon legitimate accreditation, it loses some steam. By the time Bartleby makes his inspirational speech defending his made-up school, where the students design the classes and teach themselves, the film has worn out its welcome.
Still, Long and friends make it worthwhile in a decent matinee sort of way, and Long's future looks good. He will co-star in Office Space creator Mike Judge's Idiocracy later this year, and is being discussed as a possible sidekick for Bruce Willis in the next Die Hard movie. He has a comedic gift, and while Accepted is fun enough to earn a mild recommendation, Long is capable of much better.
