This could be renamed “if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions”. Great cinematography with a good first half (love that intro, all of the pool scenes, the beautiful framing and color scheme), but it absolutely falls apart in the second half with the introduction of Ben and Elaine’s relationship. Firstly, this is through no fault of the actors (although I will say that Dustin Hoffman looks way too old to be newly graduated, and also learning he groped Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross without asking beforehand has soured my opinion of him), but due to the flimsy premise and lack of character-building. The affair with Mrs. Robinson is the most interesting thing here – and then suddenly we’re supposed to believe Ben and Elaine are in love after one date? Because they could relate to each other about post-grad anxiety and uncertainty of where their lives are going? As a recent graduate myself (and someone who appreciates existential dread immensely), that’s ridiculous.

Beyond the point that Ben’s character is not alluring in any way besides being goofily naive, are we just supposed to be okay with the fact that Elaine is ostensibly an idiot? You “fall in love” essentially after a date where the man humiliated you and you found out he was having an affair with someone else, then think he raped your mother and you’re still willing to speak to him, and after that misunderstanding is cleared up you play ping pong with two dudes regarding marriage? Actually going forward with a marriage when you told a different guy like a day ago you would marry him, then being ecstatic when he busts into your wedding screeching for you? Sorry, but none of this makes a compelling story or a couple you want to root for.

I liked the Simon & Garfunkel songs a lot, but did roll my eyes at the third sequential “Scarborough Fair” (honestly, you could have broken them up and it might have worked). Had this movie leaned more into deepening the characters, and highlighted the fear of what being an unbound, high-achieving, pressurized, graduated college student desperate for meaning and purpose is ACTUALLY like, this could have been an amazing film, since the technical components all shine.