Having been longtime champions of the screenplay, we feel a little bad that it’s taken us to the last minute to review Greg Mottola’s “Adventureland.” Dubbed a coming of age comedy, Mottola has had issues with the demarcations and for good reason; the sharp and mature look at post-adolescence isn’t easily defined, so much so it kind of defies basic categorization.
The film stars Jesse Eisenberg as a recent college graduate whose dreams of a European experience are quickly squashed by his parents economic woes and he’s force to take a going-nowhere job at his local amusement park — it’s much like the slap in the face of adulthood and how life quickly manages your expectations. But his one gleam of joy is found in Em (Kirsten Stewart), a elusive young girl that captivates him and forces him to let down his guard for the first time ever. At the park we’re introduced to a cast of character like Bill Hader (who does provide some broad moments), Kristen Wiig, Martin Starr and the lothario Ryan Reynolds (who does a strong job of playing a flawed, but likable asshole).
So yes, more of a first love tale than rom-com, this ’80s set indie narrative, is at times, an intensely visceral heartbreak story and doesn’t go for any easy notes you normally find in these stories (especially when they’re replete with this much music). What we’re saying is its absolutely not the broad comedy that it’s being marketed as to catch all the audience flies (this is how it works) and we’d expect a lot of people to be disappointed with how painful and sometimes uncomfortably honest the heartache moments can be, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised to see the geek community really latch on to it.
It sounds almost silly to say, but part of our inarticulation in penning a review already is in describing a film which almost defies genres and or at least pushes the boundaries of what an indie 20 something dramedy usually constitutes. In fact, it’s like a strange hybrid of Noah Baumbach’s sometimes brutally candid, “The Squid & The Whale,” meets Mottola’s unique sensibilities, but there’s rarely any cheap laughs
Incredibly understated, mannered and carefully observed, as much as “Adventureland” is personal, intimate and semi-autobiographical, it refuses to do many things that we applaud it for which is revel in nostalgia (with the ’80s being the timeframe, it easily could have gone there) or wallow in much woe-is-me self-pity. Instead it delivers very credible and sometimes uncomfortable moments of longing and awkward romantic missteps. Jessie Eisenberg’s character really puts himself out there is some naked moments that made us want to pull the covers over our heads — a painful reminder of when you were too inexperienced and put your heart out way to open on your sleeve.
Featuring an tastefully curated soundtrack of ’80s college rock and indie-alternative classics (Husker Du, The Velvet Underground, INXS, The Replacements) that we’ve already discussed at length, the film could have ostensibly become overstuffed with music montages and slo-mo music moments (like a recent mall-cop drama that did this at every turn), but again refuses to stoop so low. The one real music moment, a bumper cars scene set to The Cure’s ” Just Like Heaven,” is thrillingly filled with that gulp in your throat, butterflies moment when you’re falling fast in love and it literally made our cheeks flush with emotion.
But “Adventureland,” is subtle, so much so we wished a few moments of forlornness and melancholy were milked every so slightly, but in a workmanlike discipline, the picture moves along at an economic clip and doesn’t slow down to underline emotional moments for you. This won’t work for everyone, it’s almost emotionally faint in it’s heartstring-pulling bittersweet scenes, but the film is probably better off for it.
The one criticism being thrown at the film is that it lacks dramatic impact and is somewhat aimless and lackadaisical, which to be fair aren’t unfounded points as its penchant for avoiding cliches could come off as almost doggedly unfamiliar to some, but there’s a strong humanity and it comes from the experiential heart. It’s a sweet little indie with modest stakes and aims, but is much warmer and truthful than 90% of the 20-something, “coming of age” post-teen stories we’re accustomed to and it’s nice thing to witness.
“Adventureland,” comes out today April 3 and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Reynolds. Definitely go out and support it.