ADVENTURELAND

Though “Superbad” fans have been looking forward to a film in the same vein as the raunchy 2007 comedy, director Greg Mottola’s newest flick, “Adventureland,” is more of a “When Harry Met Sally.”

      Mottola brings back big hair and rubber bracelets in his beautifully shot and brilliantly crafted coming-of-age comedy that comes closer to a true representation of life than most films in theaters today. Mismarketed as “Superbad II,” the film is nothing like its vulgar, sex-driven trailer. Instead, “Adventureland” is a trip back to the ’80s that reminds audiences what was so great about that decade of electric sounds and retro trends.

      The film is set in 1987, and recent college graduate James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) plans to spend the summer backpacking through Europe. But after his father (Jack Gilpin) receives a pay cut at work, James is forced to look for a job to pay for graduate school. After exhausting all other options, including a job as an asphalt mixer, he calls his childhood friend Tommy Frigo (Matt Bush), who sets him up with an interview at Adventureland, a local amusement park. After meeting the park’s schizophrenic manager, James begins to learn the ropes with Joel Schiffman (Martin Starr), a nerdy, monotone, Russian-Literature philosopher working a job beneath his intelligence. Joel then introduces James to the world of carnies and rigged games.

      The subplot that holds the film together begins when James meets Em Lewin (Kristen Stewart), a charming, nonconformist co-worker who succumbs to the simple work only to escape her wicked stepmother. Stewart and Eisenberg bring a youthful innocence to the film. Their on-screen relationship is highly believable and exciting as it develops during a summer full of puking children, stale corn dogs and stuffed pandas.

But that’s not the only underlying story. Each of the film’s misfit characters has a pathetic excuse for working a soulless job that cheats children out of penny prizes. The park’s mechanic, Mike Connell (Ryan Reynolds), tells everyone he once jammed with Lou Reed, and the park manager’s wife, Paulette (Kristen Wiig), faithfully follows her husband around the park, never questioning his outrageous and unethical modes of management. Though the film’s plethora of side stories slows its pace, it still contributes to the film’s overall success.

      Cinematographer Terry Stacey enhances the film with expressive shots of carnival rides, fireworks and New York City skyscrapers. “Adventureland” was shot in a run-down amusement park, which helped the film attain its vintage look. The masterfully crafted bumper car scene uses handheld shots that place the viewer on the ride. Stacey captures the essence of that weird transformation from teenage years into adulthood through his shots where innocence and reality collide.

      The characters relate to one another through the stimulating sounds and emotional lyrics of dreamy indie music that plays during the majority of the film’s close-ups. The song lyrics speak for the characters, representing their internal thoughts. “Adventureland” pays tribute to the big names of ’80s rock such as The Replacements and Falco, whose nostalgic tracks play an enormous part in “Adventureland’s” ability to captivate its audience.

      The film’s humorous yet sincere tone is comparable to that of 1996’s “The Daytrippers,” which Mottola also wrote and directed. He incorporates the right mix of wit and ridiculousness into the script. The screenplay has so many jokes that seeing it more than once is a must just to catch them all.

      “Adventureland” reminds audiences of the good old times and the feel of rock ‘n’ roll — by the end of this blast from the past, everyone will be wishing it was 1987 again. The nonstop smart and witty jokes and the thrilling, diverse and captivating cinematography allow Mottola’s film to appeal to a wide range of moviegoers. 

“Adventureland” was written and directed by Greg Mottola.