On my monthly movie rendezvous, I found myself staring at the huge stack of unwatched films I swore I’d get through months ago. The pile is still there, looming, silently judging me. Normally I’d just give up and rewatch Gone Girl for the tenth time, but this time I took the risk of listening to my friends’ recommendations: Adventureland — an ‘80s-set rom-com starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. Columbus and Bella Swan at a theme park…interesting…
I’ll be honest. Looking at the cover, my expectations were low. It screamed corny, maybe even “plotless chatter for 90 minutes.” But within minutes, the film proved me wrong. Cue the Replacements’ “Bastards of Young” blaring, and suddenly I knew this wasn’t going to be the typical, glossy teen rom-com.
The plot’s simple enough: James (Eisenberg), a broke graduate, takes a dead-end summer job at the Adventureland amusement park after his plans to travel fall through. He’s stuck managing rigged carnival games, dealing with screaming kids, and navigating the park’s lineup of eccentric co-workers…one of them being Ryan Reynolds (hello?!). Among them is also Em (Stewart), who’s cool, complicated, and hiding more than she lets on. From there, it’s less about dramatic twists and more about the small, awkward, funny moments that come with first jobs, bad bosses, and figuring out what you want from life.
What makes Adventureland work is how grounded it feels. James isn’t some Hollywood version of a young adult — he’s awkward, broke, and lost, which felt more sincere. The humour is subtle but clever, and the romance, while awkward, is oddly believable. Along with Ryan Reynolds also comes Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader running the park with unhinged energy, so you’ve got a weird but memorable mix.
Let’s not forget the soundtrack. It’s wall-to-wall ’80s alt-rock— Bowie, The Cure, Lou Reed— basically the kind of playlist every person above the age of 45 would go crazy for. It sets the mood perfectly and makes the whole film feel more authentic. By the end, I was genuinely annoyed I hadn’t watched it sooner. Adventureland isn’t flashy, but it’s funny, heartfelt, and a lot more relatable than I expected. If you’ve ever had a terrible summer job, been broke, or just enjoy watching Jesse Eisenberg look perpetually uncomfortable, it’s absolutely worth your time.
“Jesse Eisenberg” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.