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Released 11th September 2009
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Writer/director Greg Mottola comes from ‘the Apatow school of film thought’, and having directed the 2007 smut fest Superbad about teen youth coming of age, before venturing off to college, you would be forgiven for expecting Mottola’s latest project that follows a recent college graduate who takes on a dead-end job at a local amusement park to run through a similar, mad-capped and puerile vein. Not so. Although Adventureland offers the same assortment of social misfits, weirdos and sexually-depraved saddos, it is an awkwardly sensitive, but intelligent and effortlessly funny dramedy that has that wonderfully understated and sharply-observant method of acting that we have come to expect from Apatow collaborators, where more is said and meant in what is not actually uttered.
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Similar in parts to Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, in its subtleness of humour and tender moments of reflection, Adventureland will place Jesse Eisenberg on the map, as the latter film did for Michael Cera. In fact, Cera may have stiff competition in the future from Eisenberg for similar Apatow roles as both can masterfully recreate the inner torment of youth, bordering on manhood. Eisenberg’s performance is aided by the casting of indie favourite, Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, who plays tortured soul with great ease and melancholy as fellow park employee and mysterious love interest Em. Indeed the similarities between Bella and Em are apparent for all those wanting more of Stewart, before New Moon descends in November. One of the greatest successes of Adventureland is Mottola’s care and attention to his characters that ultimately result in humour spawned from the bittersweet nostalgia that they and their experiences bring for an older audience.
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Bill Hader as the out-of-touch and embarrassing, goofball amusement park manager reminds us that we are still in zany Apatowland, providing the more obvious slapstick comedy bits - some, not so amusing as others. But it is Ryan Reynolds as the park maintenance man and heartbreaker, Mike Connell, that puts a new spin on the Apatow format. Reynolds, somehow, instantly adds credibility to any film and its purpose, even though the Canadian actor is as much of a prankster as the next. Reynolds’ character Connell is compelling, struggling to come to terms with unwanted adult responsibilities, whilst having the freedom to continue exploring his youthful pleasures in an unrealistic playground full of nubile temptation. It is through his character’s immature actions that the other, younger members gauge themselves and their development as they find their feet in life and love.
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Mottola’s Adventureland has reigned in the foolishness and tamed the Superbad beast, creating a youth-centric drama with humour that widens the audience net to include older viewers wanting to take a sentimental trip down memory lane.
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By Lisa Keddie
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Synopsis
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It’s the summer of ‘87 and for recent college grad James, life after college isn’t exactly what he expected. Realising he can’t afford the dream European tour he’s been planning he’s forced to take a dead-end job at a local amusement park. Forget about German beer, world-famous museums and cute European girls, “Adventureland” promises to be the stage for the most painful summer of his life. However, as he meets new friends, falls in love and learns to loosen up, he realises that the worst job ever may just turn out to be the best time of his life.
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Film Facts
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Official site: http://www.adventurelandthemovie.co.uk/
UK Release Date: 11th September 2009
Director: Greg Mottola
Writer: Greg Mottola
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg (’James Brennan’), Kristen Stewart (’Em Lewin’), Martin Starr (’Joel Schiffman’), Bill Hader (’Bobby’), Kristen Wiig (’Paulette’), Ryan Reynolds (’Mike Connell’), Paige Howard (’Sue O’Malley’), Kevin Breznahan (’Molly Hatchet T-Shirt Guy’), Mary Birdsong (’Francy’), Josh Pais (’Mr Lewin’)
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK
Certificate: 15
Run-time: 107 mins
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Video on Real.com
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Trailer:
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Spoof training video with Martin Starr:
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