Have you ever wondered why amusement park employees subject themselves to a summer of bumper cars and corn dogs? Adventureland, written and directed by Superbad director Greg Mottola, centers on James Brennan (Eisenberg), who struggles to find summer work before grad school.
His dreams of a Euro-trip dashed by the 1987 economy, James finds no better option than Adventureland, a dilapidated park near home. He maneuvers through listless coworkers and menial pay to find Em (Stewart), and his potential summer from hell starts to look a little brighter.
Although the film retains Superbad’s next-door feel, it doesn’t follow the same purely comedic trajectory. Adventureland has its funny moments, many courtesy of Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader as the insane couple running the park, but it also veers into the more serious territory of first love and broken families.
Eisenberg ably leads the stellar cast with an endearing goofiness, but leading lady Stewart steals the show. She embodies the two faces of Em, one with perfect girl-next-door charm and the other who hasn’t had the time to resolve her problems at home. The Yo La Tengo soundtrack enhances the low-key tone, and Mottola’s script is simultaneously fresh and familiar. Cotton candy, anyone?
Adventureland 3.5 stars Directed by: Greg Mottola Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Kristen Wiig Rated: R, 107 min
