I could not have been more excited about going to see Adventureland. I had fallen in love with the characters of Superbad and was anxious to see what quirky jokes would come next from director Greg Mottola in his second big debut. Moreover, I was thrilled about seeing the film in Newcomb Theater with my closest friends two weeks before its national release date. Best of all, it was entirely free.
The film began and I was somewhat relieved to see new actors rather than the typical Judd Apatow cast. The plot followed Jesse Eisenberg’s character, James, a sensitive virgin in his early 20s. When his father gets demoted at work, James is forced to get a job at the Adventureland amusement park. Here, he falls in love with Em, a coworker played by Kristen Stewart of Twilight.
I was disappointed that the film was not what I had expected. It was funny, but definitely more of a dramedy than a comedy. The plot really concentrated on the love between James and Em and was a little too sappy and serious for me. I think that Mottola tried to do too much after his success with Superbad and came short of par at making a comedic love story a success.
The film’s setting and supporting characters, however, kept me laughing. Taking place in the 80s, the movie’s costumes and hairstyles were enough to crack a smile in the audience. Frizzy hair, short shorts and a plethora of Lou Reed tracks create a nostalgic, yet hilarious atmosphere.
The film’s characters are stellar as well. Ranging from the depressed and quiet nerd to the too-cool-for-school rock star, the employees at Adventureland create a nice mesh of personalities. All the characters come together through their shared misery caused by their boredom from working their uneventful amusement stations. Bill Hader, who plays Adventureland’s manager, deserves an A+ for his acting in the film. Taking his job entirely too seriously, he walks the fine line between perfection and insanity.
Ryan Reynolds and Michael Zegen add to the list of funny characters. Reynolds plays the maintenance guy at the park, who is married, yet quick to take his female coworkers back to his mother’s basement to have an affair. Zegen plays James’s best friend, annoying enough to hate but still funny enough to love.
It was amusing to watch how the characters got by, despite their depressing situations. With nothing but a bag of joints, some booze and their friends, they turn a dismal and bleak situation into a good time. At points, the movie seems a little depressing. After all, James is forced into his job because of an unfortunate financial situation. Similarly, Em works at Adventureland to escape her materialistic stepmother and her problems at home. Nevertheless, their shared desolation leads to some comical and original situations.
The film was funny, just not as funny as Superbad and the other comedies of its generation. Mottola attempted to crack both a laugh and a tear with Adventureland, but failed to fully nail either one. The movie is definitely worth seeing, even if it is just for its witty one-liners and comedic irony, but one time will be enough.
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