Adventureland (2009)
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Director: Greg Mottola Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds Country: USA 2008 Year: 2009 Score: ** MPAA Rating: |
ADVENTURELAND is a likeable teen romantic comedy from the likes of writer/director Greg Mottola who super-impressed audiences with his SUPERBAD not too long ago.
This time around the hero, played by Michael Cera look-alike, Jesse Eisenberg has his European back-packing plans thwarted by his parents as a result of company down sizing. Working at an amusement park to make sufficient cash to pay for his New York college, he runs into romance in the form of Kristen Stewart, who in turn is stuck in a dead end relationship with a married handyman played by heart-throb Ryan Reynolds.
All this is predictable fare made even more infuriating for the fact that Mottola has set up many excellent comedic set pieces that fail to engage in the laugh out loud humour expected. The result is an ok entertainment piece for which credit much be given for the authenticity of the 70’s setting in ADVENTURELAND – down complete to all the atmosphere of an adventure park down to the soundtrack. The trouble is that ADVENTURELAND (or GEEKLAND my alternative title) is just not funny enough to engage.
Review by: Gilbert Seah

