Good but overrated

Rating: Null/10 (8 October 2000)

This is a very interesting movie, although the politics and culture of the times etc. may be a bit lost on me since I'm only 21. But Dustin Hoffman's character is a lazy jerk no matter what, and Elaine Robinson is a complete ditz. If you learned your new boyfriend had (repeatedly) slept with your mother, would you ever want to see him again, much less run out of your own wedding to another man to run away with him? I think not.

Anyway, I agree Anne Bancroft made Mrs. Robinson a delicious character. You never knew what she was going to do next. I liked how she let it slip how she had to give up her own dreams once she got pregnant with Elaine. I also agree that she was relegated to the role of villainess after the middway point of the film. Anne Bancroft is easily the best part of the film.
I also like the direction of the scene where Ben interrupts Elaine's wedding. He keeps screaming her name, and despite all the commotion around her (her parents, namely), Elaine sees and hears only him. And all is silent once she screams "Ben!" Then the chaos begins.
I also think Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross gave very good perfomances despite the fact I disliked their characters. And the Simon and Garfunkel songs are also treasures. A good movie, but I just don't think it was great.