Indie Film Spotlight: Adventureland

Welcome to Indie Film Spotlight! In which I act as your guide through the mess of mediocre indie movies out there and bring to you a select few that are not only worth watching but are actually worthy of love and recommendation. But first, a quick primer: an indie film, or independent film, is one that is produced outside of a major film studio and usually distributed by the same. Indie films are also generally recognizable by the filmmaker's personal artistic vision and are lower budget than their media conglomerate cousins. Hence the reason many of them are quite bad. That being said, enjoy this spotlight on an incredible one!

Synopsis

Adventureland is a dramatic and comedic romp following the post-college summer of James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), a literature major with no discernible job skills. After losing the funding for a summer trip, he is forced to take a job at a local amusement park where he makes friends, falls in and out of love, and learns just a little bit more about real life.

Why You Should Watch It

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart are an underrated perfect film duo, falling only slightly behind Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and this is their first film together. It's worthing watching just for them. But add to that mix Ryan Reynolds as a handyman, Martin Starr (of Freaks and Geeks fame) as a disillusioned summer worker, and Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader as the dweeby owners, the cast is just perfect. It's the perfect film for any disgruntled liberal arts major or anyone who has spent a summer working a dead-end job, speaking to both on a deeply personal level, or even just someone who likes the quiet, quick, witty humor characteristic of most of Jesse Eisenberg's movies. Plus, who doesn't love a solid 80s amusement park soundtrack?

I’m not even qualified for manual labor. I majored in Comparative Literature and Renaissance Studies. Unless someone needs help restoring a fresco, I’m practically useless.

Have you seen Adventureland? What did you think?