I have to say, this movie was somehow right up my alley. Many have commented they found the movie hard to watch or they didn't like Mavis...
...and yes, she is of course in many ways a self-centered bitch, but I also found so many things I have in common with her. Which may say a lot about me, but hey, what the hell :)
I'm not the same type exactly (never have been this popular and certainly am not as indifferent towards other people's feelings) - but the sense of not belonging with anyone, finding it hard to be happy sometimes, preferring the big city to small and suffocating towns and communities... that's definitely familiar.
What Mavis said in her conversation with Sandra towards the end I found extremely touching, how lots of people seem to just live their everyday lives, not even minding what happens to them, or being content just as long as everything is "normal"... and never feeling the urgent need to change something or some sort of inexplicable despair. I can totally relate to that.
I just thought all the conflicts and feelings within Mavis were portrayed so wonderfully - great script and great acting by Charlize Theron, love her.
This is the biggest directorial leap of Reitman's ever-improving career. UITA, TYFS, Juno all rely on superimposed text and animations to guide their worlds. After a beautiful title sequence focusing on a playing cassette, Reitman loosens his grip and gets the hell out of the way so Charlize (and later Patton) can take the stage. Young Adult's low-key nature means that it will forever be the under-seen and under-loved of the director's works.
Mavis the unrepentant aging high-schooler is Diablo Cody's best character since Mark/Jason Bateman in Juno (and I suspect those two would have a lot to talk about). Her selfish actions make complete sense even before the big reveal. Then she dives into ignorance after just teasing the prospect of evolution. Absolutely perfect.
Jason Reitman has yet to make a film I don't want to watch multiple times. His newest is Young Adult, written by Juno's Diablo Cody, and it's an impressive vehicle for Charleze Theron. She plays a writer of young adult fiction suffering from depression who returns to her home town to get her currently married old flame back, and connects instead with a crippled geek from her class played by Patton Oswalt. Theron manages to make you laugh and break your heart, sometimes in the same scene, and I'm happy to report that Cody's dialog is a lot less mannered than it was in Juno. It's a film with a largely ambiguous ending, or maybe I should call it ambivalent, which makes it more realistic and believable. On the commentary track, Reitman says the movie is meant to make you uncomfortable. If by that he means it confounds movie expectations, then he succeeds. I suggest showing it to your favorite romantic comedy addict.
I loved this movie but near the end, it became painful to watch.
When Mavis confronted Buddy and his wife, it became extremely painful to watch. I could feel her embarrassment
so much that I had to take off my glasses and cover my eyes and ears at a point. I LOVE Charlize Theron and Diablo Cody but I don't think I could watch this one again. I didn't hate it but I didn't exactly like it fully. Though I do have to say I'm nearly exactly like Mavis in real life, except I don't try to steal anyone's husband or boyfriend.
It was a pain in the ass finding this movie at ICM. Searchbox was being a jerk. Just so you know. And the movie wasn't actually a comedy but a drama. Most action movies are way funnier. It was ok though.
I absolutely LOVED this film. It's directing, acting, and message were all unique and great. Throughout watching it, I just pictured Charlize in Monster and could not believe how versatile she really is.
And I absolutely LOVED that she did not have a revelation or something and become magically better. Because really, who does that?
Very realistic but at the same time very imaginative. Great film!
Expected a bit more to this film, given it was directed by Reitman and written by Cody, but it was an okay coming-of-age anyway. Theron was great, succeeded in picturing a jerky woman and making the audience more and more hated her character as the film went, which was a good thing!
It could only be better if by some way, Mavis intrinsic values were better exploited. I understand that she is a jerk, and that she doesn't think as herself as a jerk, but by which justified values?
Maybe that is just what I like about Jason Reitman, the nihilistic persona he explores.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 23
IreneAdler
I have to say, this movie was somehow right up my alley. Many have commented they found the movie hard to watch or they didn't like Mavis......and yes, she is of course in many ways a self-centered bitch, but I also found so many things I have in common with her. Which may say a lot about me, but hey, what the hell :)
I'm not the same type exactly (never have been this popular and certainly am not as indifferent towards other people's feelings) - but the sense of not belonging with anyone, finding it hard to be happy sometimes, preferring the big city to small and suffocating towns and communities... that's definitely familiar.
I just thought all the conflicts and feelings within Mavis were portrayed so wonderfully - great script and great acting by Charlize Theron, love her.
astronate
This is the biggest directorial leap of Reitman's ever-improving career. UITA, TYFS, Juno all rely on superimposed text and animations to guide their worlds. After a beautiful title sequence focusing on a playing cassette, Reitman loosens his grip and gets the hell out of the way so Charlize (and later Patton) can take the stage. Young Adult's low-key nature means that it will forever be the under-seen and under-loved of the director's works.Mavis the unrepentant aging high-schooler is Diablo Cody's best character since Mark/Jason Bateman in Juno (and I suspect those two would have a lot to talk about). Her selfish actions make complete sense even before the big reveal. Then she dives into ignorance after just teasing the prospect of evolution. Absolutely perfect.
Can't wait to watch again.
hawksetc
Put Patton Oswalt in every film ever.Siskoid
Jason Reitman has yet to make a film I don't want to watch multiple times. His newest is Young Adult, written by Juno's Diablo Cody, and it's an impressive vehicle for Charleze Theron. She plays a writer of young adult fiction suffering from depression who returns to her home town to get her currently married old flame back, and connects instead with a crippled geek from her class played by Patton Oswalt. Theron manages to make you laugh and break your heart, sometimes in the same scene, and I'm happy to report that Cody's dialog is a lot less mannered than it was in Juno. It's a film with a largely ambiguous ending, or maybe I should call it ambivalent, which makes it more realistic and believable. On the commentary track, Reitman says the movie is meant to make you uncomfortable. If by that he means it confounds movie expectations, then he succeeds. I suggest showing it to your favorite romantic comedy addict.dayofthewoman
I loved this movie but near the end, it became painful to watch.Earring72
Good drama, very wel acted and sometimes funny. But what a very stupid main character......but that's the point......but still......annoying :-)bencemil
It was a pain in the ass finding this movie at ICM. Searchbox was being a jerk. Just so you know. And the movie wasn't actually a comedy but a drama. Most action movies are way funnier. It was ok though.kayjay027
I absolutely LOVED this film. It's directing, acting, and message were all unique and great. Throughout watching it, I just pictured Charlize in Monster and could not believe how versatile she really is.filmclub
Bridesmaids 2marciabaroni
Kind of depressing. But the writing is actually good.mandapuspi
Expected a bit more to this film, given it was directed by Reitman and written by Cody, but it was an okay coming-of-age anyway. Theron was great, succeeded in picturing a jerky woman and making the audience more and more hated her character as the film went, which was a good thing!greenhorg
Young Adult, Bad Teacher, and Bridesmaids. 2011 is the year of the loser female character in film.EmmaGjerdseth
ah charlize i love you! great film!eoveikur
This was fantastic.joao.antonio.verdade
It could only be better if by some way, Mavis intrinsic values were better exploited. I understand that she is a jerk, and that she doesn't think as herself as a jerk, but by which justified values?Maybe that is just what I like about Jason Reitman, the nihilistic persona he explores.
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