Adventureland…
Finally getting around to writing this review, I saw it when it original came out in the beginning of April. Adventure land is the coming of age based on the life Greg Mottola, the director of this little film. The Mottal based character, James (Jesse Eisenberg), is a recent college graduate who comes home to find out that his parent’s financial situation has changed. His summer trip to Europe has now been canceled and his post graduate education is in jeopardy. So to make money he takes a job at Adventureland, the local summer amusement park. And thus the story begins.
Going into the film, there was a lot of talk about how funny it was. And yes it had its moments, but the laugh at loud moments were few and far between, with Bill Hader being responsible for most of them, the rest of the humor merely just smile inducing.
Outside of the comedy element of the movie, the larger and much better part of the film is the drama end. The story of James figuring out what to do with his life after his plans come to a screeching halt is thoroughly enjoying. This is the reason to see this film, it’s the sole reason that this film succeeds to me. It’s not over the top, yet a little heartfelt (despite the fact that one of the films central messages is that adulthood is littered with disappointment, lol), it’s a definite renter.
**1/2
