Friday, April 03, 2009

Pots Berry Farm: “Adventureland” is a Fun Nostalgia Trip

First things first. “Adventureland” is a lot more serious than I thought it would be. It has it’s share of laughs but it’s certainly more thought-provoking and affecting than a movie like this seems the right to have. Maybe I’m just used to comedies just being “comedies” but sometimes they actually reflect real life and have something to say. This is a great movie because it really says something to everyone. We’ve all been there before: trying to get a job after college. We spend our parents’ hard earned dough for four years and then we end up at a job where a college degree is hardly required. Of course some of us land better jobs than others. I’m not so sure how I’d feel if I had to spend my post college summer working the game booths at a lame amusement park in which all the games are fixed so the average consumer can’t even win a coveted giant panda bear. “Adventureland” is about a young guy who must take on a crappy job even though he’s been accepted into grad school and his journey to discover himself.

Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid & the Whale) plays James who has just graduated from college. He’s an intellectual type. He’s had relationships but never any real physical contact with the opposite sex. He’s sort of a nerd, but a cool nerd. He had plans to spend the summer traveling through Europe, but his parents can’t afford to help him with financial needs. Therefore before starting grad school in the fall, he must accept a summer job: a game booth operator at Adventureland. Adventureland is operated by the film’s main comic relief Bobby and Paulette (Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig) who like the cops in “Superbad” sort of seem like they’re in a different movie, but are still funny nonetheless. James hesitantly accepts the job where he meets a cute girl named Em (Kristen Stewart) and an even nerdier kid Joel who can’t seem to shake the anti-Semitism he sees in his crush Sue (Paige Howard, daughter of Ron).

As the days progress James gets close with Em, but she’s having an affair with the park’s handy man Ryan Reynolds who is, dun dun dun, married. Why someone like Reynolds would go after a girl who looks like a 13 year old boy going through puberty is beyond me. Therefore when James wants to ask Em out, she backs away which makes James want to go out with the park’s hot body Lisa P. who has returned an employee much to the happiness of every male worker at Adventureland. She’s that slutty looking chick who, like most slutty 80s characters, wears tight, off the shoulder t-shirts and lots of makeup and neon colors. Oh and she dances while she’s operating the rides. Rumor is she’s a virgin too actually.

One of the main perks of Adventureland is it’s setting. Yeah I mentioned the park is a sketchy amusement park, but it is the summer of 1987 and many of your favorite 80s bands make an appearance on the film’s soundtrack. Director Greg Motolla (who also wrote the screenplay which is apparently based on his own experiences) actually does a great job of creating period detail. He doesn’t just throw 80s pop culture references down you throat just for the sake of it (like in The Wedding Singer). And he creates relatable characters in realistic situations. It sort of fun watching all these co-workers bond since they share similar hobbies (drinking, smoking pot etc) and they all share a horrible job run by a pair of hilarious loons.

The film doesn’t try to be overly sentimental or corny but actually hits all the right notes. You feel the frustration in James because he knows the last job he should be working is at a place like Adventureland and he’s really in love with Em. By the end of the movie you’re certainly rooting for him to get what he wants and it’s enjoyable watching his summer journey. Those expecting a complete laugh riot will probably be disappointed, which in a way, I sort of was, but looking back it’s pretty amazing how just plain enjoyable watching “Adventureland” is. It may not be high class cinema but it deals with real life issues, realistic people and is a fun nostalgic look back to a time when we think we should be conquering the world and just end up with broken dreams and wage slave salaries. GRADE: B


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!


my web blog :: particular nike

oakleyses said...

gucci outlet, true religion, kate spade handbags, prada outlet, kate spade outlet, air max, chanel handbags, oakley vault, true religion outlet, longchamp handbags, ray ban sunglasses outlet, oakley sunglasses, coach purses, louboutin, true religion jeans, tiffany and co, prada handbags, toms shoes, nike air max, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, louis vuitton outlet online, louis vuitton handbags, tory burch outlet, michael kors handbags clearance, longchamp handbags, michael kors outlet, air max, coach outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, jordan shoes, coach factory outlet, cheap michael kors, polo ralph lauren outlet online, air jordan, nike air max, longchamp outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet online, coach outlet store online, nike shoes, michael kors outlet online, louboutin outlet, burberry outlet online, nike free

oakleyses said...

mac cosmetics, sac guess, barbour, roshe run, montre pas cher, converse pas cher, north face, vanessa bruno, new balance pas cher, air force, nfl jerseys, north face jackets, abercrombie and fitch, nike huarache, birkin bag, michael kors, oakley pas cher, new balance shoes, lancel, louis vuitton, louboutin, hollister, louis vuitton, converse shoes, lululemon, supra shoes, michael kors, reebok outlet, lululemon outlet, timberland, air max, karen millen, nike roshe, ralph lauren, michael kors, nike air max, north face outlet, nike free, nike blazer, ray ban pas cher, hogan, nike trainers, ray ban, hermes, burberry, lacoste, hollister, abercrombie and fitch, vans, mulberry

oakleyses said...

oakley, ugg, ugg, ugg boots, juicy couture outlet, instyler ionic styler, ugg boots, marc jacobs, canada goose outlet, wedding dresses, soccer jerseys, canada goose outlet, rolex watches, gucci, canada goose, soccer shoes, moncler, louboutin, tn pas cher, p90x3, insanity, herve leger, beats by dre, canada goose, canada goose, moncler, mont blanc, jimmy choo, celine handbags, air max, moncler outlet, ugg outlet, asics gel, juicy couture outlet, hollister, babyliss pro, canada goose, giuseppe zanotti, vans, ferragamo shoes, moncler, chi flat iron, ralph lauren, bottega veneta, moncler, uggs on sale, ray ban, mcm handbags, valentino shoes, ghd

Anonymous said...

Excellent way of telling, and fastidious paragraph to take facts about my presentation subject, which i am
going to present apartments in westwood pqa (Gtsopour.Blogspot.fr) university.

Unknown said...

tods shoes,tods shoes sale,tods sale,tods outlet online,tods outlet store,tods factory outlet
canada goose sale
ugg uk outlet
nike shoes
north face jackets,north face,the north face,northface,north face outlet,north face jackets clearance,the north face
cheap jordans
oakley sunglasses cheap
denver broncos
cheap ugg boots
coach outlet online,coach purses,coach handbags,coach bags,coach handbags sale,coach handbags outlet
coach outlet,coach outlet online,coach outlet store
hermes outlet online
cheap oakley sunglasses
michael kors outlet store
ugg outlet store
canada goose jackets
nike air max 2014
true religion outlet,true religion jeans,true religion kids,true religion jeans sale,true religion jeans for men,true religion jacket,true religion sale
michael kors,michael kors canada,michael kors handbags,michael kors outlet,michael kors outlet canada
ghd hair straighteners
michael kors outlet store
qqq1029

mmjiaxin said...

nike air huarache
moncler jackets
black friday 2015
ugg boots sale
north face jackets
true religion outlet
winter jackets
tiffany and co
ralph lauren polo
links of london jewellery
michael kors handbags
nfl jersey wholesale
michael kors handbags wholesale
instyler ionic styler
michael kors outlet online
michael kors uk
pandora outlet
michael kors outlet online
salomon shoes
hermes belt for sale
mm1202

Unknown said...

tory burch sandals
lululemon outlet
coach outlet store
louis vuitton outlet store
ed hardy outlet
louis vuitton handbags outlet store
ugg boots
cheap oakley sunglasses
true religion sale
air jordan 11 free shipping
toms outlet
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet,michael kors outlet online,michael kors,kors outlet,michael kors handbags,michael kors outlet online sale,michael kors handbags clearance,michael kors purses,michaelkors.com,michael kors bags,michael kors shoes,michaelkors,cheap michael kors
north face jackets
ferragamo shoes
soccer jerseys,soccer jerseys wholesale,soccer jerseys cheap,soccer jerseys for sale,cheap soccer jersey,usa soccer jersey,football jerseys

adidas nmd said...

replica rolex
cleveland browns jerseys
coach handbags
cheap jerseys
ralph lauren
oklahoma city thunder jerseys
dolce and gabbana shoes
pittsburgh steelers jersey
true religion outlet
supra shoes

Unknown said...

links of london
light up shoes
adidas superstar
yeezy boost
yeezys
nike air zoom structure 19
hogan outlet
james harden shoes
huarache shoes
pandora charms

Unknown said...

At Gokulathil Seethai latest videos watch online

Império said...

Assistir Online Gênesis 30/07/2021 Capitulo 139 completo em HD. Mais recente transmita Grátis online ou baixe NOVELA Gênesis Capítulo 139 sexta-feira 07, 2021. Não se esqueça de curtir e compartilhar este vídeo, marque também este site para ficar por dentro dos vídeos diários do NOVELA Gênesis AO VIVO.

unkowm said...

Full episodes of Tamil serial Mouna Raagam only at Mouna Raagam Tamil Dhool TV for free in high quality.