Adventureland

I am a huge fan of film, yet I haven't been to the theater in quite a while. I did, however, recently see "Adventureland" . . . twice. My friend and I decided to hit the theater and couldn't think of one movie we both wanted to see. We decided to see a thoughtless comedy and chose "Adventureland", assuming it would be a Superbad-esque knee-slapper with a great cast that included SNL favorites Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader (a frequent cast-member in Judd Apatow/Seth Rogan/etc... type films). Martin Starr also gave me hopes of some unique, hilarious comedy in the realm of "Freaks and Geeks". Never did I expect to be enthralled in a wonderfully executed love story, with just the right amount of laughs. I was so impressed that when another friend and I went to see a movie that next week, I couldn't help but recommend (or insist on) "Adventureland".

"Adventureland" follows James Brennan as a college graduate who has plans of touring Europe for the summer and returning to the states in the fall for graduate school at Columbia. This all falls apart when his family finds themselves in financial troubles and he is forced to get a job at the town's local amusement park. Following James through the summer, we are introduced to his co-workers played by the likes of Starr, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Wiig, Hader and more. Setting the film in a suburb of Pittsburgh in 1987 works wonders for the story and, just as important, the soundtrack. The year was actually pushed back a bit to include some extra tracks such as The Cure's "Just Like Heaven". Brennan is a huge fan of Lou Reed's and, therefore, the soundtrack includes a range of songs from the 60's through the 80's - each song perfectly marries the scene it accompanies. Whether Brennan and love interest Em (played by Stewart) are watching fireworks with Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" in the background or the two driving together and listening to the Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes" each song sets the emotion of each scene perfectly. Listening to the soundtrack now immediately gives me a great mental image of the scene (or scenes) to which each track played.

There are certainly some hilarious lines and scenes (not to mention some great styles from the 80's) but the overall tone of the movie is a bit more serious and romantic. The film really makes you want to go back to your first summer after college, looking for that crappy job, not knowing what the future holds for you and finding love where you least expect it. Each character in "Adventureland" is realistic - someone you've met at some point in your life . . . or will. You fall in love with these characters and somehow find yourself emersed in the life that surrounds them. I imagine some people will be disappointed with the film as it may not be the slapstick comedy they were hoping for, but hopefully the majority of film-goers will leave with a smile on their face and a song in their head (probably "Rock Me Amadeus).