Adventureland… a review
Did you ever buy a pair of X-Ray specs as a kid and then felt totally ripped off because they couldn’t see through anything?
Well, if you go to see “Adventureland” expecting to see a raunchy stoner comedy then I have one thing to say to you…
“Hellooooo Sea Monkeys!”
From the people who brought you “it’s funny because they under-act” now comes the latest release from “The Napoleon Dynamite Playhouse” actors in their new release… “Monotone Coming of Age Film 3!!”
See the teenage virgin mumble his lines like he’s just ingested a vial of horse tranquilizer.
Be astounded with the retro soundtrack of eighties alternative hits that you had forgotten about ever since that mixed tape you made was ruined when you laundered your acid wash jeans.
Laugh along with the audience members who showed up stoned hoping to get a head start on the non existent pot humour.
Adventureland is really a “coming of age” film which is fine except that they’re marketing it as coming from the team that brought you “Superbad”.
I can’t think of a more pissed off customer base, except maybe the fans of Anne Rice who just awoke from their coma and bought her latest Born Again Christian book set expecting to catch up on some homoerotic vampire sex.
Here’s the deal guys.
This movie is basically about a guy who spends his summers working at a crappy amusement park so that he can earn enough money to go to an out of state college.
Super dork is a virgin and yet somehow he gets the two hottest chicks in the park to date him.
One girl is shallow and the other one is an emotional mess that is sleeping with a married man.
And the laughs keep on rolling in!!
All that was missing was a terminally ill sibling, a pet dog with a missing leg and maybe a serial killing neighbour that lives in the apartment next door.
Hell, why stop there? As long as you’re going to mislead us about what the film is really about I think you should include a musical number with chubby German children singing on a mountain top.
Listen, the movie has more in common with “Stand By Me” or “The Flamingo Kid” than it does “American Pie”.
Don’t expect to see some good old fashioned pastry loving in this film, Adventureland is too busy dealing with racism, being robbed at knifepoint and parental alcoholism.
I imagine that this film is what “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” would have been like if there had been a school shooting and everyone was taking barbiturates instead of pot.
It’s not a bad movie, but it sure as hell isn’t a comedy.
As a comedy I give it 2 stars out of 5, but as a drama I’ll give it 3 stars.
Unless of course you’re baked (in which case this movie RULES!!!)…
