Generally hated movies, take 2: Adventureland. I am not really sure how many people other than me actually like this movie, but I love it. I think it was a victim of poor marketing, but that is a separate issue. I like that it reminds me of a certain period of time in my life. And it has one female character that isn't a completely terrible stereotype. Sure, from a feminist perspective, it is rife with problems. It is another white, heterosexual male's story, straight romance is the ultimate reward, the women are male fantasies, and all the other problems common to Hollywood films. Still, there is an element of realism that I felt from this film that is usually absent.
Adventureland reminds me of the second summer that I worked at the theatres. None of the events in the movie actually really happened to me, but it still had the same feeling. It reminded me of how a job like working games at a sketchy amusement park (or scooping popcorn and cleaning theatres as it was in my case) can end up being more than that. The people you meet and get to know, the things you learn that have nothing to do with your job, the amount that you grow up, that changes you. I felt Jesse Eisenberg's character grow and change from his experiences at his job in some of the same ways that I have changed from my experiences. So maybe this movie meant nothing to anyone else, but to me it spoke to a very memorable time in my life.
I think part of why this movie is so disliked is the way it was advertised. It looked like a lighter comedy from the trailers. It has funny moments, but is more of a coming of age drama. And I love coming of age stories. Also, I love the music. It is set in the late 80s, but most of the music is not the mainstream pop music, but more like the Replacements, David Bowie, Big Star, Crowded House, and a heavy emphasis on Lou Reed/ Velvet Underground music. The soundtrack to a film can definitely influence how much I like it.
My point to featuring some movies that few other than me like is to offer my perspective and to suggest that bearing in mind what I have said, consider giving them another chance.
I loved Adventureland! I actually didn't expect to like it because it seemed like a goofy comedy, so I was happily surprised. Kristen Stewart isn't my favourite, but she was OK. And Kristen Wiig and Bill Heder's little roles were hilarious.
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