Adventureland Review
By Tom Fugalli
Variation on a Theme Park
If the past is another country, it's bordered by the real world and the land of make believe in writer-director Greg Mottola's coming-of-age comedy, "Adventureland." Mottola has managed to map the in-between world of post-adolescence, with all its extreme topography and delicate climates. Adventureland is Hell with a heart.
Although promoted as being by "the director of
Superbad", this 80s-era throwback is closer in its subtle sensibility to Mottola's 1997 indie comedy "The Daytrippers." Most of the characters could have been easily drawn as caricatures, and at first glance may seem as such. But Mottola humanizes them with moments of self-awareness that don't make them easy objects of pity or subjects of laughter.
James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), an idealistic comparative literature graduate with dashed dreams of traveling through Europe and in need of a summer job, finds himself working at the local amusement park. This detour becomes a more life-altering journey than any foreign tour could have been.
Joel Schiffman (Martin Starr), a pipe-smoking cynic who loves Russian literature and hates his life, tutors James with deadpan insights. Em Lewin (Kristen Stewart) maintains a believable balance between innocence and experience as James' love-interest. In contrast, Lisa P (Margerita Levieva) is an over-the-top mischief maker, prone to spontaneous dancing. Mike Connell (Ryan Reynolds), maintenance man by day and wannabe rock star by night, is both the coolest and the creepiest attraction at the park.
Bobby and Paulette (Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig), the managers of Adventureland, behave like its only indigenous life forms. Watching them operate within the park's absurd logic, it's easy to forget they lost their minds half-a-dozen corn dogs ago.
James quickly becomes popular in his new environment, due largely to the marijuana given to him by friend Tommy Frigo (Matt Bush). Unfortunately, and somewhat inexplicably, Tommy spends much of the rest of his time in the film punching James in the genitals (the "sack whack"). This is one part of "Adventureland" that is deep in "Superbad" territory, and feels like it was especially annexed to satisfy anyone who was hoping for a sequel. Also, Jesse Eisenberg is bound to invite comparisons to Michael Cera (there's one).
As in anything a bit precious, flaws can be found. The straightforward story never plays hard to get. Love is blind, but viewers will have no trouble following this romantic plot in the dark. At times the movie wants to get by on looks alone, and the ending is as inevitable as an arranged marriage.
Fortunately, there are glimpses of life's real roller coasters outside Adventureland. James' dad has been recently "transferred to a different department" at work, which results in "significantly less money" (and significantly more drinking). Em's step-mom, bald from the stress of a previous divorce, struggles to maintain appearances in every way.
Semi-based on Mottola's youthful experience working at the real Adventureland in Farmindale, NY, the film is actually set in Pittsburgh's more authentically preserved Kennywood Park. Sometimes memory lane crosses State lines. However you get there, Adventureland is worth the trip.
