Adventureland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventureland_(film)
Virginia does not provide any input into the movies that are in our Netflix queue. She can be critical of the movies that I select. I have admittedly been a cold streak with the movies that we have received the last few months. Bill Simmons recommended Adventureland on his podcast and Virginia read the summary and decide she did not even want to watch it so I watched it by myself on a lazy Sunday afternoon . Adventureland is one of the best movies that I have seen this year.
This is a coming of age story set in 1987. The main character is James (played by Jesse Eisenberg, who I never heard of) whose summer plans fall through due to his parents financial problems and he is forced to work in a small amusement park to make money. James seems to have previously lived a sheltered life so working at the amusement park gives him an opportunity to get to know people from different backgrounds.He falls for a co-worker named Em, played by Kristin Stewart who is involved with another older married coworker.
I thought this movie was similar to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, but I like Adventureland much better because the characters were much more identifiable and interesting. This goes for both the main character and the supporting characters. Part of this may have been because I was around the same age as James in 1987. In addition, the soundtrack is great for anyone that grew up in the 80s.
It is shocking that this film only made $16 million at the box office. Both Wikipeida and Bill Simmons mentioned issues with how the film was marketed as part of the problem. However, if anyone is looking for a good sleeper film, this gets my vote.
I give Adventureland a A-.
The Hangover
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hangover_(film)
The Hangover contrasts with Adventureland in two ways.
- Prior to the released of The Hangover the advertising was extensive. There were commercials for this movie non-stop.
- The Hangover has made about 18 times as much money as Adventureland and is the highest grossing R rated comedy ever.
I was really looking forward to seeing this film. However, after watching The Hangover I was disappointed.
I did not care for the three main characters in the film. Bradley Cooper's Phil was far too arrogant and was a jerk. Zach Galifianakis as Alan was too over the top with his weirdness and Ed Helms as Stu was basically playing the same awkward character that he plays in The Office. Especially in a comedy if you don't care about the characters, you are unlikely to enjoy the movie.
The main three characters go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party for their friend, Doug. They wake up the next day and can not find Doug and none of them can recall what happened the previous evening. They have to piece together the events of prior night.
Netflix has a a new category for movies like The Hangover, they call them Late Night Comedies. This is the order that I would rate the top films in this category over the last few years that I have seen.
Great
Knocked Up
Wedding Crashers
Good
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
40 Year Old Virgin
Average
Superbad
The Hangover
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Horrible
Tropic Thunder
I give The Hangover a C-.
I read recently that more people watched the reality show about the lady with the big ass whose father was friends with OJ Simpson (the name is escaping me and that is not a bad thing) who became famous from a porno than the season finale of Mad Men, which was on at the same time. The fact that The Hangover was so much bigger than Adventureland can be chalked up to the same lack of taste in the masses.
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