Mavis is screwed up. Like, seriously. But no more than the rest of us – and that’s where the beauty of Young Adult lies.
Young Adult was released in 2011, so I’m a bit late to the game, but its mixed reviews are highly confusing. Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman team up to create a, dare I say, powerhouse film; it’s just much more subtle than my realist faves, such as Revolutionary Road or other films that criticize and analyze the failure of any average American’s life.
But Young Adult is much more than a 30-ish woman failing to rise from her high school throne, plagued by fallen marriages and a fruitless womb. With absolute hilarity (thank you, Patton Oswalt for joining this movie), Young Adult flirts with the question, “Is anyone really happy?”
And the best thing is, Cody and Reitman never answer the question. It’s still in the air if whether Buddy is happy in his marriage; if Freehauf is a man who’s come to terms with his disability, or a man running away from real life to his action figures; if Mavis has truly found out that toying with booze and men is not a fulfilled life.
But the second to last scene is where the answer to these questions are hinted at. After Freehauf’s sister drowns Mavis in praise and belittles the “dumb and fat” town of Mercury (repeating the cafeteria cliques of decades past), and asks if she can partner up with Marvis to the grand ole’ city, Marvis shares that, well, “you’re good here.” Ouch. And once Marvis drives off in her beaten car to a life not changed, we can see that life must be something more than what these group of characters wrestle with.
Young Adult is now available on Netflix Instant, but its not a pretty Charlize Theron cracking the audience up with her antics. It’s an intimate viewing of everyone’s struggle to stretch beyond being a Young Adult.
☆☆☆☆ and 1/2 Stars
Random Film Buff 
So glad you enjoyed the movie. I loved it when I saw it a year ago and with each rewatch I only loved it more, it’s now one of my all time favorites. The writing and Theron are just incredible.
And that’s the best thing about it – it’s definitely a rewatchable movie. Maybe I’ll show it to my family this Christmas. 🙂
Really enjoyed this one, but I need to rewatch it. Fine screenplay and great performances, for sure.
Mhm. 🙂
Excellent review! It’s beautifully written and insightful. I just watched this — I didn’t like it as much as you did, and I found Mavis difficult to relate to. However, I did enjoy the movie, and I definitely get where you were coming from. 🙂 You looked at it from a broader perspective than I did. I basically just saw it as a character study.
Oh, it’s definitely a character study. But it’s one where elements of her personality are all in us, just a little bit. I guess that’s where the “broader perspective” comes from? 🙂
Nice review. I think we share a very similar opinion on this film. The mixed reception is confusing indeed.
Yep!
Are you on twitter? I wanted to give you an “FF” this past Friday.
Actually, no. Thank you for the rec, though! You can always give a shout out to RFB. 🙂
Really nice review here. This was a film that I thought was decent, but after days of not leaving my head, I realized how remarkable it is. I didn’t know it was on Netflix. Gonna give it a rewatch soon!
Please do!
Nice review. I really liked this film. I thought Mavis was an awful, awful person but Charlize Theron’s magnificent performance dared you to not look away.
Charlize is wonderful. 🙂
Really glad you liked this! Theron is incredible, such a heartbreaking performance. The writing is also on top form.
I haven’t seen Juno yet, but I would love to now.
I don’t always love Charlize Theron, but I do enjoy Jason Reitman’s movies. Plus it doesn’t hurt to have a brilliant actor/comedian like Patton Oswalt onboard. I’ll definitely have to check this one out.
Definitely. I’d love to watch Up in the Air, now.
Is this website still alive? 😦
I think the zombies may have gotten Alley…
Get updating 😛
Didn’t get to see this one at the theatre, but will check it out on Netflix. Thanks. Great review by the way.
I’ve seen this film a few times, and still can’t make up my mind whether I like it or not. I thought I didn’t like it initially, but I keep on returning to it, to watch it again… Hopefully one day I’ll work it out!
Great review!
I loved Young Adult! It’s def one of those movies you can somehow skip between the high-profile releases, but when you catch up, it makes you smile, think, question, regret and come to terms with life. It’s both an easy watch and a hard pill to swallow; not to mention Charlize is as amazing as ever. Thank you for reminding me of it, I am totally re-watching tonight! :))