Adventureland is the latest offering from the man who brought you Superbad, Greg Mottola.
James Brennan is a recent college grad who has no job and considering its Summer the local theme park (Yes, called Adventureland) is open for business. So after ringing around for a few jobs, with no luck he finally ends up in Adventureland. Essentially being forced to do so after mommy and daddy experience severe financial troubles, thus hindering his plans to go to college in New York. So off he goes to get a job at said theme park, he uses weed to make himself popular as he is not blessed in the looks and personality department and in turn falls in love. He screws it up by a few honest, choice words and then its a case of will she or wont she take him back.
There's not alot you can do in a theme park, movie wise, but in fairness here this isn't about vomit inducing rides as the whole movie is glued together by its dialogue and characters, some of which you'll naturally gravitate to and some who you'll think are just gob shites. Essentially Adventureland is a coming of age story and all that goes with it. Love, lust and so on.
Invariably people may draw comparisons to Superbad, but this is a bit different. Sure, there's the drug usage but that's about it really. While Superbad was laugh out loud funny and more in your face, Adventureland is far more subtle and as a result it manages to raise very few popcorn choking laughs, but at the same time it will raise a smile or two. So don't go in expecting another stoner movie full of bodily fluids and so on. What you do get though is a movie that may tug on the heart strings a little as it may cause a few flash backs of your own early love life years, but then again there are plenty of flicks out there that will do the same. Pace wise, Adventureland plods along, and while it never feels too long it seems to take an age to get to its conclusion at times. The performances are where it does succeed at, in particular Jesse Eisenberg (The Village, the Squid and the Whale) who is thoroughly convincing as this misguided, quiet and shy teenager. At times you do feel for him as things go awkwardly wrong and his character is very likable. The rest of the supporting cast are all solid enough and especially Bill Hader and Ryan Reynolds, who are equally very watchable and convincing!
Adventureland is solid at times , with some great performances but for me, it doesn't really go anywhere. Its slow in parts and the story has been done many times, in different guises before, and overall it won't set you on fire and may leave you feeling disappointed, kinda like Pasta without any sauce! The characters and their likability are its only saving grace!
James Brennan is a recent college grad who has no job and considering its Summer the local theme park (Yes, called Adventureland) is open for business. So after ringing around for a few jobs, with no luck he finally ends up in Adventureland. Essentially being forced to do so after mommy and daddy experience severe financial troubles, thus hindering his plans to go to college in New York. So off he goes to get a job at said theme park, he uses weed to make himself popular as he is not blessed in the looks and personality department and in turn falls in love. He screws it up by a few honest, choice words and then its a case of will she or wont she take him back.
There's not alot you can do in a theme park, movie wise, but in fairness here this isn't about vomit inducing rides as the whole movie is glued together by its dialogue and characters, some of which you'll naturally gravitate to and some who you'll think are just gob shites. Essentially Adventureland is a coming of age story and all that goes with it. Love, lust and so on.
Invariably people may draw comparisons to Superbad, but this is a bit different. Sure, there's the drug usage but that's about it really. While Superbad was laugh out loud funny and more in your face, Adventureland is far more subtle and as a result it manages to raise very few popcorn choking laughs, but at the same time it will raise a smile or two. So don't go in expecting another stoner movie full of bodily fluids and so on. What you do get though is a movie that may tug on the heart strings a little as it may cause a few flash backs of your own early love life years, but then again there are plenty of flicks out there that will do the same. Pace wise, Adventureland plods along, and while it never feels too long it seems to take an age to get to its conclusion at times. The performances are where it does succeed at, in particular Jesse Eisenberg (The Village, the Squid and the Whale) who is thoroughly convincing as this misguided, quiet and shy teenager. At times you do feel for him as things go awkwardly wrong and his character is very likable. The rest of the supporting cast are all solid enough and especially Bill Hader and Ryan Reynolds, who are equally very watchable and convincing!
Adventureland is solid at times , with some great performances but for me, it doesn't really go anywhere. Its slow in parts and the story has been done many times, in different guises before, and overall it won't set you on fire and may leave you feeling disappointed, kinda like Pasta without any sauce! The characters and their likability are its only saving grace!
