Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Wiig, and Bill Hader.
Adventureland takes an indie type storyline and turns it into one great commercial success.
Back in the good old days of 1987 James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) has to find a summer job because his parents now have money problems and can’t loan him any money for college. The only job he can find is a job at a local theme park called, Adeventureland. He gets hired by Bobby and Paulette (Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig), two very strange people who own the park and just want everything run the right way. Along the way he meets Em (Kristen Stewart). They form a relationship over the summer and through the fall but little does James know that Em has been having a side relationship with Connell (Ryan Reynolds). Throughout his time spent there James goes through many different situations, ones with Em, Connell, the owners, and as well as Joel (the underrated Martin Starr) and Lisa P. (Margarita Levieva). It’s a time full of letdowns, good tunes, and a job that might seem fun but ultimately sucks.
Greg Mottola (Superbad) really takes things to a new level with this movie. He shows the real emotions of the characters and gives each character plenty of time for the audience to get to know. The performances are all fine. Eisenberg really shines here in a breakthrough performance that should gethim some attention. Stewart takes her acting skills to a new level here and has really improved since her drastic role in last years Twilight. The rest of the cast works very well here too. Hader, Wiig, Reynolds, and Starr all shine here as well all adding some comic relief to the more serious scenes.
Overall this movie works on so many different levels. Mottola, like I’ve said before, has really improved since his first film and it shows. He makes us car about the characters and what’s happening to them. I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys any type of movie really. It’s a good-hearted movie and will please most anyone who watches it.