Adventureland is a movie with great characters. The little moments between them feel organic. And it’s really hilarous, too. It’s 1987. James (Jesse Eisenberg) has just graduated from college and is looking forward to graduate school in New York City. But when his parents can’t fund his European trip nor his higher education, he realizes that for the first time in his life he has to get a summer job. The only thing he can find is a low-paying, degrading job at a local amusement park, Adventureland. There he meets co-worker Em (Kristen Stewart), and the two quickly form a sweet romance. In spite of James’s previous failures with girls and Em’s promiscuous past, this is their first love. And that’s what Adventureland is really about – falling in love for the first time. I don’t want to give away any more of the story because it’s best to walk into this film not knowing the subplot.
I was surprised at how easily Eisenberg carried the film. This guy’s acting skills are on par with – if not better than – look-alike Michael Cera. Usually the “angst-ridden female” character grates on me, but Stewart plays her well enough. Bill Hader is excellent as the park manager, playing the humor more low-key than he usually does. And then we have Ryan Reynolds, who sheds his usual wise-guy shtick and plays a genuinely creepy individual. The final scene with his character is done just right. The writers could have easily made Reynolds react one way to the preceding events, often the mistake of lesser films of the same genre, but they chose the more realistic option.
It’s little realistic moments that make Adventureland work. The way in which the characters relate and react to each other feels natural. And, most importantly, the relationship between James and Em works, so it’s hard not to root for them. Besides being about first loves, the film also explores dumb mistakes we make in those relationships. This is familiar stuff for almost anyone. Plus, this movie is also really, really funny, although the comedy pales in comparison to Superbad. Greg Mottola directed both, and this film is smarter and has more heart than its funnier counterpart. This film nails the romance and the characters, as well as the little interactions between them. Adventureland just works, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better comedy in theaters right now.
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