Adventureland (2009) Miramax Films
1 hr 47 mins.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Wendie Malick, Jack Gilpin, Martin Starr, Margarita Levieva
Directed by: Greg Mattola
MPAA Rating: R

Rating: *** stars (out of 4 stars)

The one thing that clearly defined the Reaganomics-era of the late 1980's was the plethora of John Hughes teenaged angst-ridden movies that chronicled the trauma and experimental self-identity of youth-oriented consciousness. Writer-director Greg Mattola ("Superbad") pretty much delivers a crafty coming-of-age tale that exemplifies this exact sentiment. In fact, this revealing and passively insightful look into young ambivalence about direction in life is based on some of Mattola's real-life experiences. Perhaps this is why that Mattola's intelligent and exploratory narrative Adventureland feels so honest and genuinely authentic?

Mattola's smart and resourceful screenplay captures the essence of stillborn indecisiveness within a promising soul that is destined for something better in his existence while being at peace with letting those expectations hang in the balance. The film's leading protagonist is James Brennan (a grown-up Jesse Eisenberg from "The Squid and the Whale"), a recent geeky high school graduate in 1987 who is all set to map out his plans for the summer. James hopes to become part of the glorified learning halls at Columbia University in the fall season. Also awaiting him is a golden chance to tour scenic Europe with his family. Hey, what more can a college-bound young man look forward to, right?

Unfortunately, the rug is pulled out from the bottom of James's feet when harsh reality sets in as his parents (Wendy Malick, late of TV's "Just Shoot Me" and Jack Gilpin) are strapped for cash and can't afford the grand trip across the pond. Due to financial difficulties, James must hunt for a summer job to make ends meet. With nothing else to turn to for suitable employment, James hooks up with a struggling New Jersey-based theme park named Adventureland. The amusement park is run by a screwy husband-and-wife tandem ("Saturday Night Live's" Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig). In addition to his wacked-out bosses, James must endure the eccentricities of the park's off-the-wall visitors. There is nothing like purgatory when a paycheck is at stake, correct?

One of the main pleasurable distractions at Adventureland for James is meeting up with pretty co-worker Em Lewin (Kristen Stewart, "Twilight"), another polished and sensible wonder whose toiling at this crappy seems inexplicably puzzling. Both James and Em are comfortable around each other's company and they realize that their presence at Adventureland is a personal joke at best; they are associated with irreverent surroundings that this duo realizes is beneath their calling for something more solid and profound. Nevertheless, James oversees the park's shady "Games of Chance" booth as settles for his smitten sessions with fellow malaise-ridden Em at his side.

Among the memorable Adventureland associates is the theme park's shifty maintenance man (Ryan Reynolds) who dispenses questionable advice and suggestive observations to the bewildered James as he battles quietly with his unmotivated persona that is clinging to the crossroads. Martin Starr is on board as the newest pal of James's as they both contemplate what is in store for their future.

Overall, Adventureland is a refreshing take on "the teen turmoil scene" where the uncertainty and inherent fear of a gifted mind is explored with the legitimacy of doubt and disappointment. Mattola peppers his salient exposition with a potent whimsy of self-conflict in one young man's bid to grab hold of his wayward meaning for being stagnant. James is in a unique situation where the world can be his oyster if it weren't for the allowable setbacks that serve as a blatant reminder that the Game of Life can be as deceptive as the amusement games he works around at will for the park's unsuspecting customers.

Eisenberg is totally convincing as the once-enthusiastic James who has to settle for what's currently in his cluttered path--a beat-up amusement park that is barely holding his head above water while possibly dashing dreams for a grander scale in ambition and determination. Stewart's Em is equally riveting as the object of affection for James--she shares that same sense of settling for what is a given choice now as opposed to planning beyond the realm of Adventureland's confining boundaries. Both performers have grown professionally in front of the movie audience's eyes and they will be surprised by their enriching, layered performances. The supporting performances are keenly concentrated with much aplomb--particularly Reynolds's turn as the park's roguish fix-it guy with his brand of bad-boy cynicism.

In short, Mattola takes us on a thrilling emotional ride of sorts in the unlikeliest of quirky theme parks aptly referred to as Adventureland.

Frank Ochieng
@ MovieEye.com (2009)