The Film
After the 2007 film Juno, people predicted big things for writer Diablo Cody. Instead, we got Jennifer's Body (hey, some of us liked it!). While fun for its cult fanbase, it didn't exactly create the buzz or the box office that studios were expecting.
Now, Cody is going back to basics and to Juno director Jason Reitman for the drama Young Adult. Yes, this is a drama -- and Paramount's marketing, Charlize Theron's Hello Kitty shirt, and the appearance of Patton Oswalt shouldn't make you think otherwise. Aside from a few "life can be funny" moments, this isn't a funny movie at all.
Instead, it's the story of Mavis Gary (Theron), a ghost writer of young adult fiction, who seems to be having her own teen drama. In between chugging Diet Coke, downing buckets of KFC, and working on her latest deadline, Mavis gets word (actually an email) that her high-school sweetie (Patrick Wilson) is a new father. So like any slightly depressed, completely alcoholic, self-absorbed woman, she heads back to her hometown bent on getting him back.
Young Adult is a sad movie, but a good one. It's well worth sucking up the pain for another impressive performance by Oswalt (please give this guy more movies!), as well as the always reliable Theron. Despite the picture of perfection, her Mavis is blast caught in the past, all the way down to the cassette deck and choice of music (4 Non Blondes, really?).
Want to read a more grown-up opinion? Check out Tom Fugalli's theatrical review of Young Adult.
The Picture
Like the movie, the image for Young Adult is pretty surprising. The film wasn't a big title for Paramount, but manages to deliver an impressive 1.78:1 transfer. There's a great color palette, with colors that are both varied and very lifelike. Detail is especially nice, from Mavis' dark circles and flyaway pieces of hair to Matt's garage and the outdoor scenery. Expect to be pleasantly surprised.
The Sound
The film's first few moments may have you reaching for the remote. Do not adjust the volume; that's how the film opens, with a very quiet beginning to Mavis' day. It seems like this opening, as well as other moments of the film, should give the DTS-HD Master Audio track a little more to do. However, that's just how Young Adult plays. It's pretty quite for the most part, with the film very focused on dialogue. Just know that there are some breakout moments, most notably when the band comes in to (literally) play. Make sure you don't have the volume cranked up!
The Extras
Surprisingly, Diablo Cody doesn't sit in for the audio commentary. Instead, it's director Jason Reitman sitting with photography director Eric Steelberg and the first assistant director/associate producer Jason A. Blumenfeld. The trio offers plenty of production tidbits, but it's a little dry. Instead, your time is better spent on two other worthy gems here. First up is the making-of featurette. At under 18 minutes, this delivers the most meat, with info about the film, the tone, the casting and the relationships in the film. Cody appears here, as does most of the cast and crew. If you have any outstanding questions, expect them to be answered in the Q&A, which covers a whole lot -- and it better, at 46 minutes. There's no cast and no Cody on this one. Instead, Reitman sits with journalist Janet Maslin at the Jacob Burns Film Center.
Final Thoughts
Young Adult is a bit of a tough pill to swallow, no matter how many 2-liter Diet Cokes you guzzle. That said, it's certainly proof that Diablo Cody isn't a one-hit wonder -- and that Jason Reitman is the director she should always want attached to her material. Even more impressive is the pairing of Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt. Once you get over the fact that they are paired up, you'll see two wonderful performances that make Young Adult worth viewing.
Product Details
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