Classic Movie Review: 'Adventureland' Starring Kristen Stewart

Adventureland (2009)

Directed by Greg Mottola

Written by Greg Mottola

Starring Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader, Matt Bush, Kristen Wiig,

Release Date April 3rd, 2009

Published March 13th, 2024

With Kristen Stewart coming back to the big screen on March 15th, with the released of the much buzzed about flick, Love Lies Bleeding, I am reflecting on Kristen Stewart's career. With that in mind, I recently rewatched one of my mid-2000s favorites, Adventureland which starred Stewart opposite an excellent supporting cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds, and Bill Hader, among others.

When one thinks of Superbad, the hit 2007 comedy from director Greg Mottola, the first word that comes to mind is not thoughtful. That word however, provides a strong description of Greg Mottola's two other directorial efforts. The Daytrippers, the film that brought Mottola to the attention of Hollywood decision makers, was a thoughtful and gentle comic road trip. Now comes Adventureland which, like The Daytrippers, is thoughtful as well as gentle nostalgic, sentimental and romantic in its offbeat way.

Jesse Eisenberg stars in Adventureland as Brennen a soon-to-be New York college student who was planning for a trip to Europe for the entire the summer before college. That was before his dad lost his job and Brennen lost his funding. Now, even college in New York is in question unless Brennan can start raising money on his own. This means getting a menial

Being more of a thinker than a laborer, Brennen finds there is not much out there in the unskilled labor market. Thankfully, an old friend, Frigo (Matt Bush), is able to land him a gig at a local amusement park, Adventureland. Brennen will be in the games section where every contest is rigged and no one, NO ONE is allowed to win a big ass panda. These are the rules laid down by the park manager Bobby (Bill Hader) and his wife Paulette (Kristen Wiig).

With only the goal of making money on his mind, Brennen is shocked when he meets Em (Kristen Stewart), a thoughtful outcast not unlike himself. The two spark some romantic chemistry quickly but there are any number of complications that will keep them apart, not the least of which is Brennen's virgin status and Em's shall we say 'experience'. This isn't so much of a boundary as a truth. You will find throughout this wonderful movie that truth is a default setting for these characters no matter how complicated that truth is.

Kristen Stewart is cast in Adventureland as what many might dismiss as a manic pixie dreamgirl, that love interest in many male directed movie whose existence is predicated on how they can improve the life of a male protagonist. But Stewart fully and completely defies this categorization. She's shy and reserved and has no intention of being just a functioning part of a man's narrative. Stewart's energy is unique and different and she gives a full life and breath to Em, even as she is not the main character and has less time and focus to flesh out her character. It's a wonderful performance, one that defies the box that our culture and Hollywood specifically tries to place actors like her. Stewart is a good reason to love Adventureland.

Adventureland unfolds with the nostalgic glow of a memory, slightly dimming but still quite vivid. Director Mottola is observant and engaged with his story and his attachment to these characters, this vivid memory, quickly becomes our attachment. These characters become extensions of us and we slowly come to more than merely identify with them, we feel their every awkward moment as one of our own. It is a trick that few movies can pull off. Being smart without being condescending, being sweet without becoming saccharine and being sentimental without becoming sappy. Adventureland manages each of these talents with an unexpected grace and that makes the movie an utter joy to watch.

Adventureland is an ethereal and romantic movie that has a good head and a strong heart. To watch is to drift along with it and feel compelled without feeling pushed. It's a dreamlike movie that evokes nostalgia without feeling cheesy. The memories are time specific but the characters are timeless, relatable and feel like people we know, only slightly more interesting. If you like comedy with a soft touch and offbeat charm, you will adore Adventureland just as much as I did.

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