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Adventureland lacks originality
11 Sep 2009
The Adventureland of the title is a tired theme park for hyped-up kids.
The film itself is an energetic teen romance aimed at reflective adults. Greg Mottola, who directed and wrote Superbad, certainly knows his way around teenagers.
James (the talented Jesse Eisenberg) is a sensitive, over-educated virgin who, thanks to his parents’ sudden financial crisis, finds himself looking for a summer job. At Adventureland he meets the smart Em (Kristen Stewart) and a cool, thirtysomething mechanic (Ryan Reynolds). James believes in love. Naturally, he’s in for a rough ride.
Stewart is the big name here, thanks to her role in Twilight. Reynolds (aka Scarlett Johannson’s husband) is a familiar face, too. They are more than adequate — she’s convincingly self-conscious and moody, he’s got just the right seamy sheen.
But it’s the lesser known actors who prove a knock-out, creating portraits of small-town sadness that leave lasting impressions.
Adventureland is reminiscent of indie movies like Breaking Away, Dazed and Confused and Clerks. You could put it another way and say it’s not very original. Yet, watching the movie, you’re too swept up in James’s problems to care.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
