Rent Adventureland (2009)

Summer Games - Adventureland review by Steve

Philosophical rerun of that staple of US cinema; the freedom of the last summer before further education and the pursuit of an elusive, ideal girl. It's a rites of passage comedy-drama set in 1987 about the sort of landmark experiences which stay with us always.

Jesse Eisenberg stars as an inexperienced middle class stoner with a place in a New York graduate school but stuck in Pittsburgh for the holidays. He takes a low wage job in a corny, run down amusement park, falls in love with Kristen Stewart and learns life lessons.

There was a glut of similar films around the same time, like 500 Days of Summer (also 2009), or Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008). This is the best of them, with a witty script which admittedly includes more deliberations on growing up than genuine laughs.

Plus there the usual cool indie-rock soundtrack. Writer-director Greg Mottola draws effectively from personal experience, and has a knack for describing the moments when life gets serious. While the stars lack chemistry, this is a superior variation on a popular formula.

My new favourite film. - Adventureland review by CP Customer

I was hardly optimistic when I added Adventureland to my list. Kristen Stewart was low in my opinion (due to a certain film about a certain sparkly vampire) however her performance was pretty good and changed my opinions about her. I would recommend this film to fans of Juno or Nick, Norahs Playlist, 500 days of summer or Garden State. Adventureland can be serious and funny at the same time with hilarious moments placed nicely in between a brilliant plot. I was laughing out loud numerous times with clever little moments of humour especially the moment where Munch (Barret Hackney) tries to impress Em (Kristen Stewart) with his drum skills and she's less than impressed. The plot of the film perfectly sums up the struggles of an under-confident teenage male (struggles which I'm overly familiar with). The music of the film perfectly complements the theme and story of the film. In all this film went beyond all expectations I loved it and im off out to buy the DVD so I can keep it. It definetly lives up to the standard of Juno or Nick and Norah's playlist as the plots just as clever and the music just as catchy.