Working at a amusement park isn't so bad after all.
Unable to afford the European vacation he'd dreamed of, recent college grad James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) reluctantly takes a gig at a local amusement park, only to learn that the dead-end job is, in fact, excellent preparation for the real world. He soon falls in love with a a wild child named Em (Kristen Stewart).
Adventureland is from writer and director Greg Mottola, who also directed the super hit Superbad, and as you can see there are many similarities. Jesse Eisenberg played a very awkward kid looking for reason, and a lot of topics on drugs and drinking. Though this one seems to score a lot more with me.
The film is a lot more mature than Superbad and that it provides better insight of an angst teen. The very first half of this film is actually really funny and interesting. I was interested in these characters in where they went and what happened to them, provided with a arsenal of laughs. Though as it started to go on it started to really whine down the humor and its character insight and focus more on the relationship between Eisenberg and Stewart.
The problem I had with this film is not so much of the movie as it is the trailers. The trailers had it out to look as if it was a summer crazy teen movie, but however it's not. It was advertised as a hilarious slapstick and that's kind of expecting from this movie, but I didn't. I was expecting to have my gut full of laughter like Superbad, but didn't which is what kind of ruined this film for me in the end.
Lastly, I didn't understand how Stewart's character fell for Eisenberg's. He is really awkward and really geeky while she is pretty wild and full of fun, and I just don't see how they can fall for one another. But I guess that's why they call it cinema.
The humor in this is not like Superbad. It doesn't have much gross-out humor and less profanity. This features a lighter tone that is aimed towards the teens but also can work with the parents. Its wise and very realistic appeals to all and can make anybody watching this film laugh.
The ensemble cast is probably the best picked I have seen in awhile. To say Eisenberg is doing a Cera is underestimating him and his talent, and in all Eisenberg gives a wonderful and strong lead performance. I liked how all the smaller characters were very developed in this as well. Lots of the smaller characters steal the show and just add the comedic factor to this movie.
The soundtrack is one of the main reasons I enjoyed this film. There are many touching and great moments caught on camera that have great songs overplaying everything else and make me feel the emotion coming off the screen.
Consensus: A realistic screenplay, well-acted ensemble, and rocking 80's soundtrack makes this film a very funny but touching coming-of-a*e movie.
8.5/10=Matinee!!
