Adventureland

Adventureland

From Greg Mottola, the director of Superbad, comes yet another coming of age story about a nervous awkward boy on the cusp of manhood, or something like it. The summer after his college graduation in 1987, James (Jesse Eisenberg) finds his plans to backpack across Europe suddenly disrupted by his father's demotion and their family's subsequent financial difficulties. Instead, he must seek out a summer job, and the only place that will hire him is the run down theme park nearby where the rides are half-broken, the games are rigged, and nobody is allowed to win their gigantic panda prize. Despite inauspicious beginnings, James quickly develops a rapport with fellow Adventureland games worker Emily (Kristen Stewart), and slowly, the crappiest job ever turns out to be not so bad.

If this sounds familiar, that's probably because it is. At its core, Adventureland is a story with recycled parts, but refashioned anew in an appealing form. Despite the familiarity of its context, it's not quite as predictable as you might think. Jesse Eisenberg in the lead role does a particularly charming job playing the awkward, nerdy boy, worried about wearing the crimson virgin tag at his advanced age. Believable and likable in the role, his on-screen interactions with Kristen Stewart made this movie the endearing film it became. Ms Stewart, often a bit more reserved, with a slight edge of detachment about her, somehow seemed perfect as the smart and slightly more serious object of James' affections.

The movie allows itself to wander a bit, involving the oftentimes funny supporting characters. But the most interesting part seems to belong to Ryan Reynolds, who plays the handsome older mechanic who wants to be a rock star. I'm still not sure if he was well-cast in this role, but the inclusion of his story somehow elevates this film from mere boy-meets-girl territory to something greater, something more poignant, something more real.

Now, despite my love for this film, I do have a few questions. Firstly, was drug and alcohol abuse really so rampant in the 80s? Every other scene was filled with adolescents getting smashed or stoned (one of the few things this film has in common with Superbad). For another, why wasn't the relationship between James and his father further explored, as seemed obvious, and even necessary? And finally, how did this director convince me to love 80s music so much? Or have I loved it all this time without even knowing it? The soundtrack of this film pays tender tribute to the decade of high-waisted pants, huge, off-the-shoulders tops, and hair bands, and it all works so well. It almost makes me wish I could be more of a child of the 80s.

The quick take? Smarter than it looks, and better than you might expect it to be. Not just a brain-dead teenage summer flick.