Adventureland

View Date: 8/31/09

This movie is about a young man whose parents force him to get a summer job to pay for college once his father becomes unemployed. After trying several other options, he begins working for an independent amusement park at the game booths. While there, he befriends various other employees, in particular a young woman who is having a fling with the married repairman. Friends are gained and lost, trusts are betrayed, and decisions about life are made.

I was somewhat disappointed in this movie. I really like many of the actors, including Kristin Stewart and Ryan Reynolds. Jesse Eisenberg came across to me as a poor man’s Michael Cera. But I think another thing that made this movie less than desired was the setting. Taking place in an amusement park was fine, but it was an amusement park from the 1980’s. It just made the whole thing seem off to me somehow. Perhaps another aspect that lead to my disappointment was that I was very excited to see this film. Perhaps I set myself up for disappointment by expecting too much out of it and thus not being able to appreciate it for what it was.

10 words or less: Rather disappointing, and even a little slow.