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Film Review
- Film title
- Young Adult
- Director
- Jason Reitman
- Starring
- Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Collette Wolfe
- Release date
- 3 Feb
- Certificate
- 15
Young Adult
Young Adult is the second collaboration between the creative team behind Juno, and it again displays both their strengths and their weaknesses. Jason Reitman’s sure hand with actors is evident once more, but so is his glib shallowness, while Diablo Cody’s screenplay blends sharp zingers with unconvincing plot developments and characterisation. Holding the film together – and elevating it beyond what it might have been – is a tremendous turn by Charlize Theron as Mavis, an author of teen fiction who returns to her home town with the aim of winning back her now-married high school boyfriend (Patrick Wilson). Theron never appeals for audience sympathy as this awesomely self-absorbed character, delivering a performance rich in telling observations and flawless comic timing. Unfortunately, having such a vivid protagonist at the centre of the film only shows up the thinness of the movie around her, and despite Patton Oswalt’s good-natured supporting turn, Young Adult ends up feeling purposeless and underdeveloped, finally going off the rails in its climactic scenes. [Philip Concannon]
Comments (3)
Add a comment »Disagree with your assessment of the end. I thought it was a terrific anti-ending. I'm glad they took no shortcuts. Theron is amazing in this film and so is Oswalt. Snubbed by the Oscars, for sure.
Posted by | Friday January 2012 @ 00:28
Report to moderatorTotally agree with you, Kendra. It's a disgrace that Reitman, Cody and Theron got no recognition from the Academy. It's the best thing either of them have ever done. The ending is like a beaker of acid in the face to American film convention. No one grows. No one learns. It's one of the few times I've disagreed with one of Phil's reviews.
All the year's best movies (Drive, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Shame) got overlooked by the Oscars anyway. It's a badge of honour.
Cheers for the comment
Posted by | Saturday January 2012 @ 13:13
Report to moderatorI think the point about lack of oscar recognition should be redundant but is probably not. As you say Jamie it is often seen as a badge of honour amongst many film lovers to be ignored. Oscar is basically the industry awards for Hollywood productions (no problem with that as all industries have such events) but to market themselves as the judges of global cinema and the highest possible accolade is arrogant and incorrect. Just as Michelin have no right to play osiris with the worlds cuisines, anything projected upon the silver screen is not the dominion of oscar.
After that rant I must admit I've not seen Young Adult, but this discussion has persuaded me to make an effort.
Posted by | Saturday January 2012 @ 16:31
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