“NOT AN EXCITING ADVENTURE”
DVD REVIEW
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Reynolds
Directed by: Greg Mottola
MPAA Rating: R for language, drug use and sexual references. Bonus features Unrated.
Genre: Comedy
By John Delia
Do you have your eye on a DVD of Adventureland? Well please be aware that I felt the film just doesn’t make the grade. The acting sucks, the direction did not help the weak plot and the movie drags to its hackneyed predictable ending. The only good thing about the film comes with the cinematography that isn’t half bad. I do recommend this film to those who study film and want an example of what not to do.
The movie has a very simple plot. Boy (Eisenberg) wants to go to Grad School, but finds out that the family took a hit and does not have enough
money to supplement his expenses at Columbia University in New York City. So boy takes job at a local amusement park where he will be making poor wages at best. Boy then meets girl (Stewart) who befriends him and then some. Boy finds that the hottest girl working at the park wants to go out with him and the jealousy begins. In the meantime first girl is having an affair with one of the park workers (Reynolds). And so on and so on until a very predictable ending.
The film has some high profile actors including Kristen Stewart who was the lead actress in the recent Twilight. But don’t look for a good performance
here as she does the same gloomy facial expressions, very few smiles and yes she should have been a vampire in this film too so the story would have been more interesting. Ryan Reynolds of Waiting fame contributes just eye candy for the girls as his overall acting fell on its face in the gratuitous role of a cheating maintenance man. Oh and the biggest disappointment came from Eisenberg who plays the lead role impersonating the droll delivery of his lines aka Michael Cera. But, although Michael Cera would have been a better choice for the role, he couldn’t have saved the film.
The direction of the film by Mottola suffered from the long-winded, clichéd plot that would only be recognized as original by someone less than 12 years old. And his excessive and gratuitous use of alcohol and drugs became embarrassing and absurd while the plot dragged on.
Bonus features include; deleted scenes, Making of Adventureland and picture music selection.
Please note that the MPAA rated the film R for language, drug use and sexual references. But it doesn’t help the film at all. It also contains a lot of alcohol drinking and parental abuse so please be aware of this when deciding to take youngsters to see the film as they may turn on you one day.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Only see it if you don’t know the meaning of inane. (1.5 of 5 Palm Trees)