Adventureland (2009) Review in 2025
Adventureland is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film set in the 1980s about a group of young adults working at a theme park during the summer.
Family-Friendly Rating
Is this movie suitable for family viewing?
This movie is suitable for older teenagers and adults due to some mature themes and language.
CineReview Recommendation
This movie is worth watching for fans of coming-of-age comedies and dramas. It's a solid, if not outstanding, film that explores themes of identity and relationships.
Spoiler Alert!
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The movie follows James Brennan, a recent college graduate who takes a summer job at Adventureland, a struggling theme park in Long Island, where he navigates his relationships with his coworkers, including Em Lewin, a quirky and charming co-worker, and Paul Crispin, a charming but troubled co-worker.
Review Details
story8.00/10
The story is engaging and relatable, exploring themes of identity, relationships, and growing up. However, it feels a bit predictable and lacks a strong narrative drive.
acting8.50/10
The acting is excellent, with Jesse Eisenberg delivering a nuanced and relatable performance as James Brennan. The supporting cast is also impressive, particularly Kristen Stewart as Em Lewin.
characters8.50/10
The characters are well-developed and memorable, with Jesse Eisenberg delivering a standout performance as James Brennan. The supporting cast is also impressive, particularly Kristen Stewart as Em Lewin.
direction8.00/10
Greg Mottola's direction is solid, capturing the spirit of the 1980s and the theme park setting. However, the pacing can be a bit slow at times.
cinematography7.00/10
The cinematography is decent, but it doesn't particularly stand out. The theme park setting is well-represented, but the overall visual style is fairly generic.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The movie has a strong cast, particularly Jesse Eisenberg, and explores relatable themes of identity and relationships. The setting of the theme park is well-represented and adds to the overall charm of the film.
Cons
The story feels a bit predictable, and the pacing can be slow at times. The cinematography is decent but doesn't particularly stand out.
Notable Quotes
"'I'm not a morning person.'"
"'You're a freak.'"
