This film thinks it's a whole lot smarter than it is. Trotting out the hoary, smug idea about how small towns are stultifying and full of stupid people is the least of its problems. Everything in it rings utterly false, starting with the name Mavis and continuing to the distillery in the garage, the women's band, and the utter cluelessness of the husband. There's not a single laugh in the whole film. The crowd I saw it with included a lot of skinny jean, corduroy hat, clove cigarette types, and even they sat in stupefied silence. The problem with Charlize Theron's character is not that she's mean, it's that she's shallow. On the plus side, Patton Oswald is a decent actor.
Review of Young Adult
