"Adventureland" is a Delightful Retro Ride

Stefani Rubino, Managing/Opinions Editor

Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: Variety

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James (Jesse Eisenberg) and Em (Kristen Stewart) getting to know each other on the job.

Since I have no first-hand account of the happenings of the "awesome" '80s, for me, "Adventureland" is more of an informative feature of the winsome uncertainties of that era that consequently are not much different from today's qualms.

The film does stay true to the usual "underdog story," where the quiet, unassuming boy finds himself through young love and quirky friends. "Adventureland" takes on this classic theme and is predominantly propelled by the charismatic cast in the movie.

Recent college graduate, James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), has to change his plans of touring Europe and settling into graduate school at Columbia University, after his parents inform him that there is not enough money to fund either venture.

Brennan is then left with only one option, which is to find a job, even though, according to Brennan, never having one makes him unqualified for manual labor. His hope of gaining employment rests with a semi-dilapidated amusement park, Adventureland, managed by Bobby (Bill Hader) and Paulette (Kristen Wiig).

Brennan then gets two job opportunities at the park, to either be in games or rides. Since he is not cool enough to be working with rides (and since Bobby already had the "Games" T-shirt out), he is placed in the games area.

While working at this "Mecca" of humiliation evolving into self-realization, Brennan gets close to "super nerd" Joel (Martin Starr), "lost in translation" adolescent Tommy (Matt Bush), and half musician, half maintenance man Connell (Ryan Reynolds). However, the defining part of Brennan's coming-of-age story is his love interest Em (Kristen Stewart), who is trying to find herself as well, in spite of her tumultuous past.

The film has a transcendental quality, as it gives a personal account of an ordinary story that can be used as a blue print for self-discovery and universal truth.

Writer/director Greg Mottola left some of his "Superbad" ideals and created an easy-going, tapered account of crossing the rickety bridge between college and the real world. With a kaleidoscopic-like cast and a phenomenal script, "Adventureland" glorifies the youthful enthusiasm of the '80s, while making it very relevant today.

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