SXSW Review: ‘Adventureland’

I originally caught this movie at Sundance and with all the hype surrounding it I came out of it a little disappointed, but I think that might have had something to do with the high altitude because I watched this again at SXSW and it rocked my socks off.  

The story follows Jesse as he graduates high school and starts gearing up for his post high school trip to Europe in 1987. When his parents drop the bomb on him that they can no longer pay for the trip he is forced to go and find a summer job, but the only thing he is qualified for is working at the local amusement park Adventureland. When he starts at the park he quickly realizes there are 2 types of employees at the park, the Games people and the Rides people which is essentially like two different cliques in high school, the geeks vs the jocks.  

Jesse immediately falls for a fellow rides worker in Bella..I mean Emily(Kristen Stewart), who he doesnt know it yet but is totally hung up on the park mechanic/rockstar Mike Connell(Ryan Reynolds). After displaying that he is more than a geek he gets her attention and they start a love affair to spark his otherwise boring summer.  

I wont go and ruin the entire plot of the movie but  Greg Mottola really makes you feel nostalgiac with the gritty feel he gives the park, and the throwback 80’s tunes he tosses into the film. If you were born, grew up, or even graduated in the 80’s then you are going to fall in love with this flick. The movie is packed with a star studded cast featuring Bill Hader, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Jesse Eisenberg, and Kristen Stewart who all play their roles in the movie to perfection.  

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5