Adventureland, named after the slightly dilapidated theme park around which the events of the film take place, is a coming-of-age story set in 1987. Jesse Eisenberg's James has finished college and wants to go to Columbia University in New York, but when his father's paycheque is cut he suddenly sees his graduation present - which he was going to use to go on a summer trip to Europe - disappear. To earn enough money to make it to Columbia, he's forced to work at Adventureland because nowhere else will employ him. There he meets an assortment of misfits, outcasts and hotties. Kristen Stewart's Em instantly catches his eye and they embark upon an initially unlikely romance - unlikely because James is a bit of a nerd and Em is a stunner.
So far, so ho-hum. Based on the synopsis above, Adventureland may sound mildly appealing but it certainly doesn't sound in any way unique or special. But there's a tangible sense of reality to the events that occur; the film in many ways feels autobiographical. Director Greg Mottola last made the hugely successful Superbad, which originated from a Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg script; this time he claims sole writing credit, and the resulting film feels much more personal and heartfelt, as well as far less manic and profanity-strewn. Adventureland is a relatively restrained affair, frequently funny if rarely hilarious, but it's elevated to a higher level because it's surprisingly compelling dramatically. Making excellent use of Pittsburg locations, the story and situations seem to spring organically from the setting rather than being forced in for a laugh or thrill.
The characters are all rounded and relatable. For one, there's no "boo-hiss" villain to act as antagonist. It would seem at first that Ryan Reynolds' Connell fits that bill, but he's just as likeable - and flawed - as the others. Eisenberg's James is a geek but not completely socially inept; you can just about believe he might manage to get with someone like Em. And you can see why he falls for her - Kristen Stewart is not only gorgeous but also, on this evidence, a talented actress, nailing both the fragility and intelligence of the character. There are numerous minor characters too that all have a role in making the world of the film feel completely realised. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig deserve particular mention as the couple who run the theme park, providing many of the funniest moments in the film.
Adventureland's only real failing, as the above summary may indicate, is that underneath the very personal and unusually character-driven '80s-era surface, it's fundamentally formulaic. The romance between James and Em follows precisely, beat-for-beat, the same arc as in virtually every rom-com ever made, with the predictable break-up at the end of the second act. But for once this is a romance that really makes you care. The formula feels earned and appropriate. The loving attention paid to the film by its director really shines through, making it a film that invites, and achieves, a real emotional investment.
Presentation
Much of the film is bathed in a warm golden hue and the lush colours come across excellently on Blu-ray. The transfer does have a slight softness and light grain that prevents it from being demonstration material but it seems entirely in keeping with the 80s setting. My only slight gripe is that sometimes blacks err towards blue, but it's barely noticeable. No quibbles with the excellent DTS-HD soundtrack.
Disney, who released this disc via their now-defunct Miramax label, deserve praise for the user-friendliness of their Blu-rays: an automatic bookmarking feature remembers where you left the film if you stop in the middle (including if you access one of the extras, or eject the disc), and a small bar pops up at the bottom of the screen when the film is paused, which enables quick chapter selection.
Extras
There's not much in the way of bonus material here, but it is all, like the film, genial and endearing. The good-natured commentary with director Mottola and Eisenberg starts off with them joking around (Mottola attempts a Scorsese impersonation), but the track also offers plenty of interesting insight. Unsurprisingly, Eisenberg comes across much like his onscreen character, only with a slightly quicker wit. The making-of featurette is a fast 16 minutes, while the three deleted scenes total only 2 minutes and are not missed from the feature. The most amusing extra is an mock induction film for Adventureland employees, which is one of four in-character "Welcome to Adventureland" shorts, made to imitate 80s commercials. There are also two brief pieces hosted by the actors who play Frigo (showing that the character's propensity for hitting guys in the balls spread around the set) and Lisa P (who doles out fashion tips).
Summary
A wholeheartedly excellent, if occasionally conventional, coming-of-age yarn, Adventureland overflows with nostalgic charm. It's a relatively modest, unassuming film but it is hard to overstate simply how good it is. One of 2009's best.
