Adventure Land: Film Review
I’ve been on a health binge as of late and decided to start the day with a Chocolate Orange. So it was that I sat back full of orangey goodness to watch director Greg Mottola’s latest movie Adventure Land.
Now it may just be the Vitamin C talking, but I really enjoyed this film. Brimming with more charm than Cary Grant on steroids, Adventure Land’s sweet centre never tastes sickly.
The action revolves around James – a recent college grad who is forced to take a job at his local amusement arcade to fund his ambitions of studying in New York. Love loss, and life lessons ensue as his introspective self finds commonality among the band of misfit employees that populate the park.
Superbad? Supergood?
Mottola tones down the amusing lewdness of his previous offering Superbad in favour of a more contemplative dramedy. In doing so, Mottola takes the viewer on a voyage into the no man’s land that exists between youth and adulthood.
The character of James – played by Jesse Eisenberg – is ensnared within this transitory state. As the summer lurches on, escape from his trappings looks increasingly unlikely; that is until he meets Em.
Adventure Land’s nostalgic mood harks back to those forgotten summers of yesteryear. For me it brought to mind one particularly eventful period during my teens. Even though they were high times, uncertainty clouded my mind – what the future held was anybody’s guess.
Mottola’s characters face the same universal dilemma.
I’m wearing a shell suit…
The action unfolds against a 1980s backdrop and while the 80’s aesthetics play a prominent role, Mottola never overplays the culture card. Neon signs, tracksuits, basketball sized earrings embed into the mise-en-scene rather than crowd out the ensuing action.
The soundtrack also provides a constant drumbeat for the actors to dance around – an audible signpost further invoking the spirit of the times.
All good things must come to an end…
Like a mix-tape or photograph, Adventure Land portrays a snapshot of youth in transition.
Sweet, believable, funny and moving…I really enjoyed that Chocolate Orange.
Rating: 
– available on Blu-ray and DVD
Jack
9:20 pm, August 4, 2010
I love choclate orange and i love adventure land. i love your review even more!