With a stellar 80's soundtrack and unforgettable performances from leads Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg, Adventureland is one of 2009's finest subtle comedies. Without completely overdoing things with over-the-top sexual jokes and in-your-face moments of physical comedy, the R-rated film written and directed by Greg Mottola (2007's smash hit Superbad) is the perfect example of the right way to do a memorable comedy.
Sometimes the simplest of plots can produce the greatest films. This is just your average tale of guy gets summer job, guy falls for girl, and then problems arise. Only, Adventureland longs to be more than just your average tale. It has all the makings of a cult following, and it's a big throwback to the 80's, with a very groovy soundtrack and even a trip to a disco club.
Like I said before, the acting is one of the film's best aspects. Having a cast of hilarious people, even if they aren't hilarious in this specific film (I'm looking at you, Kristen Wiig), is always a plus. Jesse Eisenberg was probably the movie's biggest surprise. I'd only seen him in Cursed before this movie, so I wasn't sure what to expect. In a way, his performance channeled a bit of Michael Cera, but somehow better, slightly more sophisticated and less awkward.
Kristen Stewart, though, has always had awkward as her strong suit, and this movie is no exception. While she might have seemed a little uncomfortable as Bella Swan in the Twilight movie, Stewart seems right at home here as the pretty, quiet girl who is much more than she seems on the surface. The role is challenging in that she needed to bring a lot to the table. Stewart really becomes the character of Em, so much so that she just comes off completely effortless.
One of the strongest suits of the movie is how subtle all of the jokes are. The scene with the googly eyes was one of my personal favorites, one of the very few scenes with Kristen Wiig. The love story that becomes a central plot point of the movie really flourishes throughout the course of the movie, and you definitely get the feeling that these two like each other. I almost want to say that they had better chemistry than half of the current selection of movie romances.
In the smaller roles, Ryan Reynolds is quite the douchebag, and he plays the role with great enthusiasm. While it was a very different role for him to play (he's usually the funny sidekick or the leading man), he played it well. All of the rest of the side players make harrowing contributions to the story and laughs, and make everything all the better.
Overall, color me surprised with how much I totally fell in love with Adventureland. The immersive story, 80's feel, and layered characters make for one of the year's best films. I wasn't expecting to like the movie half as much as I did, but the script and actors elevated the movie far beyond what was glimpsed in the trailer.
Sometimes the simplest of plots can produce the greatest films. This is just your average tale of guy gets summer job, guy falls for girl, and then problems arise. Only, Adventureland longs to be more than just your average tale. It has all the makings of a cult following, and it's a big throwback to the 80's, with a very groovy soundtrack and even a trip to a disco club.
Like I said before, the acting is one of the film's best aspects. Having a cast of hilarious people, even if they aren't hilarious in this specific film (I'm looking at you, Kristen Wiig), is always a plus. Jesse Eisenberg was probably the movie's biggest surprise. I'd only seen him in Cursed before this movie, so I wasn't sure what to expect. In a way, his performance channeled a bit of Michael Cera, but somehow better, slightly more sophisticated and less awkward.
Kristen Stewart, though, has always had awkward as her strong suit, and this movie is no exception. While she might have seemed a little uncomfortable as Bella Swan in the Twilight movie, Stewart seems right at home here as the pretty, quiet girl who is much more than she seems on the surface. The role is challenging in that she needed to bring a lot to the table. Stewart really becomes the character of Em, so much so that she just comes off completely effortless.
One of the strongest suits of the movie is how subtle all of the jokes are. The scene with the googly eyes was one of my personal favorites, one of the very few scenes with Kristen Wiig. The love story that becomes a central plot point of the movie really flourishes throughout the course of the movie, and you definitely get the feeling that these two like each other. I almost want to say that they had better chemistry than half of the current selection of movie romances.
In the smaller roles, Ryan Reynolds is quite the douchebag, and he plays the role with great enthusiasm. While it was a very different role for him to play (he's usually the funny sidekick or the leading man), he played it well. All of the rest of the side players make harrowing contributions to the story and laughs, and make everything all the better.
Overall, color me surprised with how much I totally fell in love with Adventureland. The immersive story, 80's feel, and layered characters make for one of the year's best films. I wasn't expecting to like the movie half as much as I did, but the script and actors elevated the movie far beyond what was glimpsed in the trailer.