“Adventureland” is a roller coaster ride
(3.5 out of 4 stars)
I took a trip to the movies this past weakend, and saw one of the best films of 2009 thus far.
When a film is advertised as “from the director of Superbad,” two things are going to happen. One. Based on this fact alone, the movie will attract much more of an audience, making more of a profit. Two. Unfortunately some people will expect the sequel to Superbad. Those people will be disappointed, but for those who accept the fact that its a drama AND a comedy, then you are in for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Adventureland is a somewhat autobiographical film of Greg Mottola life. The film is really an adventure in itself, a roller coaster ride on display of the film’s main characters, Jesse Eisenberg as James (that is how you pronounce it) and Twilight’s Kristen Stuart as Em.
It takes place in 1987, and really takes advantage of nostalgia. These twentysomething college kids spend their summer working at a cheesy amusement park in Pittsburgh.
Some of the best laughs are experienced when SNL’s Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are on screen as Adventureland’s owners. Their chemistry is hilariously entertaining, and probably merits worth of deserving their own film.
Martin Starr, (Knocked Up) a scholar of Russian literature, also shines some laughs, and believe it or not, makes James look like the coolest kid on earth with his awkwardness.
The soundtrack is superb. From Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love,” Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes,” The Outfield’s “Your Love,” and of course “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco. The tunes are seamlessly worked in as the music of the amusement park, the bars & clubs, cassettes played on the car radio. The music is a large part of the movie’s style that drives the plot along its tracks.
Adventureland throws many bold themes of religion, alcoholism, family issues, and economic hardships, that paint a more realistic picture of life than any episode of MTV’s “Real World.” In the end, it’s one of those rides that when it’s all over you say to yourself “it’s already over?” And then proceed to hop back in line to do it all over again.
