On the surface, Adventureland looks to have all the makings of another hilarious comedy. The cast members are all fairly well known for their other comedic films and this one looked to be no different. However, after the first 15 minutes of the film, one quickly begins to realize that although this movie does have some humorous elements, it has an even stronger focus on the drama that surrounds its characters. In fact, the movie is more like a serious drama with a few funny parts, even though it has been advertised as a comedy.
The movie is about recent college grad James (Jesse Eisenberg) who is stuck working at local amusement park, Adventureland, after he finds out that he needs to pay his own way through grad school. While working there he gains real world exposure through his own experiences and through the lives of his coworkers, all of whom have their own unique life problems. Although the tone of the movie is serious, the story is something that most people can relate to. Everyone has had an experience at a crappy job which they knew they were too good for. The jobsite heartthrob that everyone lusted over, the clueless bosses who take their jobs way too seriously, and the one or two coworkers with whom you hit things off with and wound up forming a strong friendship. All of these elements are present in this film and they are all situations that most people have been through and can identify with.
The cast of this film is pretty good for the most part. The weakest link is perhaps the main character played by Jesse Eisenberg. I’m not much of a fan of his, as I feel he exudes a “better than thou” type of geeky superiority in all of his roles. Maybe its just me, but I get the impression that he is rubbing his intelligence in my face the entire film. Then there is Kristin Stewart as Emily. She is given a lot more to do in this film than in her Twilight role, and she captures that smart girl next door vibe perfectly. There is nothing hotter than a beautiful girl who can crack wise with the best of them.
The cast also features Ryan Reynolds as Mike, the local stud who has his pick of chicks working at the park, and also happens to be married. Reynolds is great in this role, as he is given a chance to tone down his sarcasm and dig into a more serious character. He is completely believable as a guy running off of the fumes of his former glory, portratying someone who is equal parts cool and pathetic. Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig provide some pretty solid comic relief as the couple who runs the amusement park. While they aren’t in very many scenes, when they do appear they manage to steal the show with some much needed tension breaking hilarity.
While the overall film was nothing that I expected it to be, I found it quite enjoyable. Even though I couldn’t really connect with the main character, I was able to identify with his situation. Also, the movie takes place in 1987, so it just adds to the whole nostalgia vibe. While it wasn’t the gut busting comedy I expected it to be, it was a pretty entertaining drama that was well worth the rental. Some may find the movie to be a bit slow and boring at times, but I felt it was pretty engaging throughout. It is definitely worth checking out if you’re wandering the video store trying to find something to watch.
