Rating: MMMM

Review of Adventureland, which  follows young James Brennan one summer in the mid 1980s as he takes up a crappy summer job at the local down-and-out theme park.

Director: Greg Mottola
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Ryan Reynolds
Running time: 107 mins

There really is something about a shitty job that has the power to unite people. Knowing that your co-workers also hate working in the place you do provides a certain camaraderie and team spirit. This, and the charms of fellow ‘Adventureland’ worker Em (Kristen Stewart) is what gets James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) through a long summer working for an out of date, kitsch theme  park. During his time working there, he encounters tricky customers, big-ass pandas and new relationships, not all of which are comfortable learning experiences.

Director Greg Mottola deftly handles and maintains a subtle tension between  the film’s comedic elements and summery high spirits with James’s melancholy and disappointment  (being let down by his parents forces him to take up the job at Adventureland) and his alienation from others around him. This alienation and disillusionment comes as a result of James looking forward to a summer trip to Europe, followed by enrolment at Columbia University and being with like minded people – dreams which are trodden on and painfully replaced by returning to live with his parents – a disappointment familiar to this critic in particular. However, Mottola contrasts James’s bitterness with physical comedy, and witty dialogue between likeable characters, hitting a perfect tone that suits the film’s indie-cool style.

The success of Adventureland really does rest on the chemistry and interplay between Eisenberg and Stewart. Both are excellent as James and Em respectively, creating sympathetic, likeable characters that are utterly compelling. Eisenberg at times is reminiscent of Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad), with a nervous energy that completely suits the role. Kristen Stewart, away from the blinding spotlight of her role in the Twilight saga, is a complete natural, and should be awarded for such a believable and compelling performance. The rest of the cast lend their support well, particularly Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Martin Starr. Also worthy of note is the art direction, lighting and soundtrack, all of which are excellent and perfectly portray the mid-80’s period setting – seen particularly in the Razzamataz club scenes.

However, in light of the promotional material for the film, one feels that Adventureland has been marketed wrong – advertising it as another slacker gross-out comedy sells the film short of its integrity and quality. Greg Mottola (as both director and screenwriter) has crafted a warm, funny and wise tale of work, play, friendship and love that is both as intelligent as it is engaging.

Rating: MMMM