Sundance Review: ‘Adventureland’

Going into Sundance this movie had the biggest buzz of everything and because of that I was a little disappointed. The movie was great, but I am not sure that it is worthy of all the hype. It will make my top movies of Sundance list, but you wont see it in the top, or maybe even top 5.

Based in 1987 the film centers around James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), a recent high school graduate who is having a rough go at love, and life after his parents cant afford to pay for his summer abroad. In order to get money for college next year he takes on a summer job, and the only place that will hire him is the local amusement park ‘Adventureland’. After arriving at the park and getting put on game duty by his boss played by the AMAZING Bill Hader, he meets Bella..I mean Emily(Kristen Stewart) and they strike up a very confusing romance.

First I want to ask everyone why the hell Bill Hader doesn’t have any starring movies yet? He completely steals the scenes in this movie, as he has done in so many others (‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’, and ‘Superbad’). He is absolutely hilarious in every scene he has and it still amazes me no one is putting him in a bigger role yet.

The movie is great simply because its based in the 80’s, tosses in some of your favorite 80’s tunes and features a great cast of up and coming indie comedy stars. It was worth seeing, just don’t expect to walk out with a life changing experience.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5