DVD Review: Adventureland

Last night I watched Adventureland, and I found myself surprised on many levels. This was not the film expected, but it was hugely enjoyable.

Studios usually market the movie they wish they had made. I think this must have been the case with Adventureland, an intelligent coming of age story that was marketed as yet another teen sex comedy. Director Greg Mottola gave us Superbad, a teen sex comedy that took raunchiness to new and hysterical heights

For starters, few of the film's characters appear to actually be teens. Most of them are either college students or graduates. Unlike the characters in Superbad, they are far less concerned with scoring booze and getting laid than they are with making real connections.

The film's protagonist James has just graduated from college and has taken a summer job at the local amusement park to help pay for Columbia graduate school. He is awkward in a way that feels completely honest. He doesn't stutter and make a fool out of himself. Instead, he tends to be overly honest and quick to share.

The object of his affection is Emily, a co-worker at the park to whom he is immediately drawn. He's beautiful, but he cannot seem to read her. He is never sure when he is supposed to talk and when he is supposed to be quiet. God, I wish I related less to this guy.

The screenwriter makes a very interesting and somewhat risky choice to give us more information about Emily than James has. The result is that we watch the moments between them feeling more awkward for his ignorance. We feel for this guy. We worry for his heart.

The film is strengthened by some very strong performances from each of its young actors. Martin Starr, the nasally nerd of Freaks & Geeks fame, steals many scenes as Joel, a jaded senior games operator at the amusement park who knows every one's secrets. Ryan Reynolds (He's so hot right now!) plays away type as the unemotional maintenance worker that the other employees all seem to idolize. He claims to have jammed with Lou Reed but only seems to tell the story when there are girls around.

Adventureland is a great portrait of the last days before a young person becomes an actual adult. It's about that last summer of living at home. It's about the time you stop having crushes and start to appreciate what the L-work really means. It's about the moment that you go from studying to be someone and suddenly being asked to actually be that person.

I think you'll like Adventureland if you like:

Dazed and Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater's hang out masterpiece is a brilliant portrait of a night in the lives of a group of high school students. I contend that the film is actually populated entirely by kids I actually knew growing up. Not really, but it sure feels that way.

Watching this movie every few years feels like going to a reunion, only I look forward to it and don't feel the need to lose weight and lie about my job. If you haven't seen it, rent it today.

The Breakfast Club (1985)
This John Hughes classic is an icon of 80's cinema. Five high schoolers forced to spend a Saturday in detention. Locked in the school library, they break through the pigeonholes forced on them and discover more about who they each are.

The film crafts deceptively complex characters from seemingly two-dimensional clichés. Sure, you know all the lines, but somehow they still make you laugh every time.

American Graffiti (1973)
Like Adventureland, George Lucus's story centers on a young characters facing the precipice of adult life. This is the last night of their summer, and tomorrow, in one way or another, each of their lives will be different.

The story strikes a perfect balance between being funny and being completely true to its characters. There are a lot of great laughs, but they are intermingled with moments of real weight and substance.