‘Operation Varsity Blues’ review: Netflix hybrid documentary about college admission scandal barely passes ‘worth watching’ test

It is a pompous way of illustrating what happened, but, as is often the case with these endeavors, it is too cute for its own sake, blurring the boundaries between scripted drama and reality. Make a film or a documentary, but in the end, make up your mind and choose a path.

The feature film offers a better view of how the scheme worked and the extent to which these wealthy parents lived their own hopes and dreams through their children. “Parents are applying to college, and the child is the means by which they apply,” says university admissions counselor Perry Kalmus.

In fact, perhaps the most effective video woven in the documentary shows children rejoicing or discouraging themselves when they receive notifications from college – one claims that they feel “broken” by rejection – underscoring the pressure they face and young people depriving those moments of triumph over admissions extended to colleagues whose parents used Singer’s “side door” to buy their entrance.

While the presentation focuses on Singer and his parents – including actor Lori Loughlin, along with Felicity Huffman among the most prominent celebrity names – much of the material blames the whole system. The issues raised range from an emphasis on universities that bring in large amounts of money – including donations to “hidden” sports – to the cultivation of university ratings that increase competition to enter elite schools.

The interviews also include some of those involved in the case, such as former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer, who pleaded guilty to providing bribes to inexperienced students who were designated as sailors. Unlike several other coaches and administrators involved, Vandemoer did not take the money and accuses his bosses of showing general indifference towards his program, except when he was writing out fat checks.

Akil Bello, a test preparation expert, finally gets to the heart of the matter – and perhaps why so many had such a visceral reaction to this story – by asking, “Why did these parents choose to cheat when their children already had so much?”

It’s a good question, as well as why “Operation Varsity Blues” felt compelled to dramatize a documentary that didn’t need any of those embellishments.

“Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal” opens on March 17 on Netflix.