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Adventureland (2009)

Director: Greg Mottola

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3 reviews

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From Time Out London

Read an exclusive interview with the director

One of comedy mogul Judd Apatow’s most creditable achievements has been allowing underappreciated directors a shot at mainstream success. Take Greg Mottola: despite making a promising debut – 1996 indie charmer ‘The Daytrippers’ – this filmmaker was languishing in TV purgatory until Apatow hired him in 2007 to direct pottymouthed-teen two-hander ‘Superbad’. That film’s success led to a production deal for ‘Adventureland’, a more restrained but equally insightful study of the high-school comedown.

It’s summer 1987, and James (Jesse Eisenberg) is all set for a character-building European adventure, until the shock revelation that his parents’ financial blunders have hoovered up all his travelling money. Strapped for cash and trapped in his Pennsylvania hometown, James signs on at the local amusement park, uncovering a world of emotional intrigue, sexual indiscretion and frustrated ambition.

There’s nothing groundbreaking in ‘Adventureland’ – the plot amounts to little more than the usual round of infatuation and heartbreak, betrayal and self-discovery – but it’s Mottola’s approach that makes it special. His technique is to treat his teenagers not as overgrown kids but as unformed adults, awkwardly testing the limits of their emotional, moral and intellectual identities. It’s as much about trial and error as adolescent romance, as James and pals try out different personas and partners until they find a style that fits.

It doesn’t always work: some characters get short shrift, while the collision between soul-searching and slapstick jars. But as a sweet-natured character comedy – and a subtle exercise in generic boundary-pushing – this is a real charmer.

Read an exclusive interview with the director

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2038, 10-16 Sept 2009

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User reviews of this film

Ando S said...

Posted on Jan 11 2012 12:15 Very enjoyable and believable characters. Far more insightful thean the crude 'American Pie' movies that portray rich teenagers with too much time on their hands. This is well worth a watch and Eisenberg gives a wonderful performance.

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madison said...

Posted on Sep 13 2009 16:42 One of more endearing romcoms of the year, and a better choice than thecrass 'Ugly Truth' and unfunny 500 days of Summer. they ought to show anti drink/drug driving ads before this film though as the amount shown is slightly alarming given the target audience

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derrinzikks@gmail.com said...

Posted on Sep 13 2009 13:02 "this filmmaker was languishing in TV purgatory until Apatow hired him in 2007 "
well, no, apatow hired him on 'undeclared'. and he worked on 'arrested development'. not exactly a lightweight.

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