Adventureland
A soon-to-be classic indie coming-of-age cult comedy
The trailer for Adventureland makes sure you know it’s made by “the director of Superbad” and only features standard comedic clips. That trailer is very misleading from the type of movie it really is. Adventureland is far from being another Superbad or even anything in that vein. It’s something much better, much more intimate.
Adventureland is a dismal amusement park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It’s not that exciting theme park that people drive 200 miles to visit. No. It’s more like a glorified county fair. The people who go there are getting ripped off and scammed in every way. And the people who work there have lost their dignity. They all seem over-qualified, under-appreciated. They only work there to get what they need to reach their dreams – money. Our main character, James Brennan, is one of these guys.
It’s 1987, James recently graduated from college and is working at Adventureland over summer to raise money for the move to grad school. On his first day, he notices the wide-range of personality types between his coworkers. There’s the geek who’s too intelligent to have social skills, the rocker, the thirty-something married maintenance guy who flirts with all the female minors, the socially inept bosses, the coveted and pretty popular girl, and Em. Em, short for Emily, is something else. She’s cool, but not too cool. She’s cute, but doesn’t act like it. She gets along with everyone. And James can’t get her out of his mind. Full of Em and his new friends, this summer with change James and the rest of his life.
Perhaps the minds behind Adventureland‘s advertising portray it as a simple teen-comedy because it’s more that than anything else. While there’s definitely the elements of romance, it’s by no means a romantic comedy. While it causes you to become emotionally invested, it’s not simply a teen drama. Maybe comedy is the best approach to take, but know that it’s not your typical comedy.
There’s a reason why Adventureland premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Though and through, it’s got the feel of an indie comedy. Indie comedies aren’t afraid to get intimate with the characters. They can still bring the laughs of a mainstream comedy – they just aren’t afraid to dig a little deeper into their characters. And that is what makes Adventureland such an amazing filml. It’s like the love child of Superbad and Garden State. The blend of good humor and emotionally strong drama works perfectly.
Even though I loved Adventureland, it’s not perfect; there are a few things that could have been done better. Jesse Eisensberg (The Squid and the Whale) plays James. Often times, his James comes off too much like the quiet bumbling guy that Michael Cera has been typecast playing since Arrested Development. And where the majority of the movie leaves the typical mold behind, the ending is somewhat predictable.
Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, yet again proves that she’s got the acting talents that will keep her in films for the rest of her life. She’s not going to fade away after the Twilight franchise dies off. She’s got this young Meg Ryan thing going on, which is odd since she played Meg Ryan’s daughter in the forgettable In the Land of Women.
Hats off to the supporting cast of Adventureland. The no-names do a great job. SNL‘s Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are perfect as the husband and wife heads of the park. Every time they leave the scene, you want them to come back. Ryan Reynolds, though playing the antagonist character with no moral boundaries, is still one hundred percent likable. You feel the same way about him that James does – you don’t want to like him, but you he’s just too cool to not like.
Even if you go into Adventureland expecting another Superbad, you’ll enjoy the film nonetheless. While you may leave the film disappointed that it wasn’t what you wanted to see, as cliched and tacky as it sounds, you’ll walk out with a smile on your face, a warm feeling inside and you’ll be thinking about it for the next few days. Isn’t that worth paying for?
Photo credit: Miramax
