Young Adult Reviews

Our Review

Mean girl gets her comeuppance

Adam Bub, MovieFix

Young Adult has the temperament of a young adult: bratty, confused and emotionally stunted. It sits somewhere between a dark comedy and a misery-guts drama, edgy without ever going over the edge, despite a game performance from Charlize Theron and some irreverent moments.

Mavis Gary (Theron) is the girl everyone hated at high school. At 37, her days of prom queen glory are well and truly over as she lives day to day drinking herself silly, watching the Kardashians and writing brainless teenage novels that aren't successful anymore.

So what's a girl to do but return to her Hicksville hometown to recapture her youth with high school sweetheart Buddy (Patrick Wilson)? Trouble is, he's happily married with a newborn bub. That little detail doesn't deter Mavis, who sets out to get her man back with the help of a forgotten high school geek, 'Hate-Crime Matt' (Patton Oswalt).

From the pen of Juno's Academy-Award-winning writer Diablo Cody, and under the direction of Up in the Air's Jason Reitman, Young Adult pales in comparison to either of those films, but there are moments of sharp humour and some home truths about identity and maturity.

The tone varies wildly from the pitch-perfect, like Mavis's lonely scenes at a three-in-one fast food chain or hotel bedroom, to the tone-deaf, like the overwrought confrontation scene at Buddy's house.

It's a mistake to reveal Mavis's vulnerability in a hysterical rant rather than a candid moment, and this is key to why many viewers might be left cold by this unlikeable character.

Either you'll love her screw-the-world mentality, or you'll be frustrated by her lack of compassion for other people. Theron goes a long way to making Mavis an entertaining, even laugh-out-loud character: she's a trainwreck in denial about her own serious issues. Whenever she sculls a drink, which is often, we're unsure about whether to barrack for her or pity her.

Perhaps that's the point of the film: we all have shortcomings and bad habits we should kick, but it's easier said than done.

Your Reviews

Annie

Apparently this film has received quite favourable reviews from film critics and the like - in fact, according to one promotional flyer I happened to read prior to walking into the theatre, Young Adult is (apparently) "hilariously awkward"... After seeing this film myself, I'd certainly agree with the latter adjective - awkward, awkward, awkward! Yes, there were some funny/laugh-out-loud moments (predominately those featured in the theatrical trailer), but those were most definitely overshadowed by the sheer awkwardness (and bleakness) of this film. Charlize Theron was tremendous as Mavis (she deserves some serious kudos for convincingly playing such a conniving, delusional, and all-round unlikeable character), but this was just an uncomfortable watch. Period.

Deb

Found the movie soooo boring.

Tom

Theron did a great job with a limited script that painted her as a weirdo. Unfortunately the movie didn't go anywhere with her character except into depressing self-pity. Support cast was similarly underused. Diablo Cody goes the way of Chris Lilley in this one - lost the magic.

awful

Not enjoyable at all. not funny, not interesting, just a bit creepy and wierd. the trailer was so tempting, but this is one that could definitely wait until it comes on TV

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