Adventureland (2009)

director: Greg Mottola

writer: Greg Mottola

starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Kristen Wing, Ryan Reynolds

genre: Comedy, Drama







Seeing this film left me with no bad feelings. I enjoyed it. But only that it could have been so much more with some changes. The director of Superbad brings us something different this time around with a down to earth comedy-drama with no huge laughs but with charmable characters and a interesting dramatic story in the background that even though it lacks true drama and depth and drags the story it still makes out for a very smart and fun film.

Based in 1987 and semibased on real life events of director-writer Greg Mottola. The story is of James (Jesse Eisenberg) and his utter failure with handling a relathionship correctly and his efforts to keep his education dreams alive while his father has been layed off. Now having to work a summer job in Pittsburgh, the only job he can get is the theme park Adventureland. There he will meet good friends like Emily (Kristen Stewart). Interesting opportunities, love and weed will all come into play this summer. He will come to realize how he should appreciate what hes got, how life is tough sometimes and you cant expect things all time from the people you know but that even new friends can be of better comfort.



While watching the film I was constanly enjoying the how sweet and genuily true these characters were. They are well written and acted. This is the primary reason the film is so good to see. Also with Mottola’s serious directing of dramatic scens and some clever joke make the film an interesting experience.



But all of that just makes it into a very simple film also the fact that while your seeing it you wonder where's the story going. You hope for a more meaningful and better ending to it by the end. But thats not what you get. Its a fun film that sadly drags the plot to a 2 hour mark that was not necessary. I wish it was more condescend in its drama and storytelling.

Its not that this film didn’t have any meaning to it and the ending nor story weren't terrible. But I came in with different expectations from the director of Superbad and got something sweet but still a little stale. Adventureland is a interesting character drama that because of its characters ages, environment and tone of the film a more of accomplished story couldn't happen. But still it’s a good film and only recommended to anybody in the mood for a character drama of college students and fans of Superbad interested seeing his next film.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul