I’m not going to review Adventureland (2009, Written and directed by Greg Mottola of Superbad fame) because The Jessica has already proclaimed it her favorite movie of 2009. But I’m not going to shut up either.
B and I saw it at Glorietta 4, which had a grand total of eight persons during the screening. We planned to see it earlier, but we were both broke. Nevermind the delay; that stormy Tuesday night, coupled with takeaways from Burger King (ahhhh strawberry sundae!), had an enchantment of its own.
Now onto the good part:
- Jesse Eisenberg! The lead character, James, who is armed with a comparative lit degree! The movie presents an alternate universe where passionate literati (who are actually cute and emitting sexual energies not only because of books) have no issues with falling in love. They’re smart, but they refuse to problematize uncomplicated things. Any takers?
- Kristen Stewart’s character, cool chick Em, fits the Twilight artista like a glove. An officemate and I actually agree that she’s a miscast in the hit teen flick series, where she looks like she would fall dead anytime, practically vampiric with boredom. In Adventureland she plays the part, showing that assailability required of the role. And not unlike James, Em brims with hopefulness despite the overall sadness and smell of small-town desperation. I particularly like the scene where Em confronts this mousy girl who ditches a good guy because he’s Jewish.
- I want a giant-ass panda. And employers like the husband-and-wife managerial team of Adventureland. I like their sense of precision when James asks to be assigned to the Rides section: “Nah, you’re more like a Games guy.”
- Did I say Jesse Eisenberg?
- Who employs Slavic literature in the tricky art of hooking up? Ah-mazing. Not James, though. I think it’s the Jew.
- I’m of the Backstreet Boys generation, but the music in Adventureland can be the soundtrack of your restless life even if it’s no longer 1987. All together now: “Hey now, Hey now, don’t dream it’s over..”
- No one can resist the subject of unemployment. And being broke. And that slippery terrain called falling in love. Oh, wait. That’s me I’m watching! Hah.
