FILM: YOUNG ADULT

YOUNG ADULT (2011)

The story of the modern woman-child

By: John C. Lyons

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Written by: Diablo Cody

Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is a young adult fiction writer. Actually she’s technically a “ghost writer” and doesn’t get credited for her stories. She’s also recently divorced and self-centered and has one of those little dogs that fits into a purse. Plus she looks like Charlize Theron. On the surface Mavis is confident, in-control, and won’t give most people the time of day. Once you spend some time with her though you see she’s also suffering from prolonged adolescence, alcoholism, and some other issues under her glossy exterior.

I really enjoyed Young Adult and Theron’s performance. It feels like the talented actress has been away for awhile and this was a different role for her. Mavis is a great character. All shallow at the start and increasingly dark and twisted as the story progresses. It takes chops to pull something like this off well without becoming a cartoon. Theron really dives in and plays everything so believably you can’t help but laugh and cringe (oftentimes at once). I’ve met people like Mavis and it’s hard not to imagine we’re creating more of them with programs like the Kardashians and Kendra as a constant source of “entertainment”. We see so many man-child stories, it’s nice to see some tackle women.

That this film was written by Diablo Cody (Juno, United States of Tara) is no surprise either. She really gets contemporary characters. If you weren’t a fan of all the hip dialog in Juno, don’t worry, there’s none of that here. Also of note is Patton Oswalt who does wonderful as well in his supporting role. When Mavis heads back to her hometown to try and steal her ex-boyfriend from his wife, Oswalt’s character provides her with some much-needed perspective and they have some great scenes together. Reitman does a standard job of directing. There isn’t any flash here, but there doesn’t need to be. Definitely recommended.

I saw this film at Cinemark’s Tinseltown 17 Theatres on Peach Street in Erie, PA. Click for showtimes.

Related links: Young Adult official site

MPAA rating: Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Length: 94 minutes

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