By Mike Wilmington Wilmington@moviecitynews.com
Wilmington on Movies: Young Adult (Two and a Half Stars)
No, correct that: Mavis ghost-writes the Waverly Prep series, probably for an alleged writer who — just like all those TV personalities and politicians who put their names (falsely) on books written by somebody else — is conning the public.
That synopsis makes Young Adult sound like an offbeat, cool, smart and entertaining movie. And in a way it is — but, actually, I thought it just missed. The script is smart, the actors are fine and entertaining (especially Theron, Oswalt and Reaser), and the atmosphere is heartland-cool. (Mavis has tapes of The Replacements and Beth fronts a local band called Nipple Confusion.) But some of the details and reactions seemed off, the characters sometimes sketchy and under drawn. I found it incomprehensible, for example, that Mavis didn’t make some contact with her parents before or on arriving — nothing big, just a call — not because ignoring her parents shows she‘s not a nice person, but because, unless I missed something, it suggests amnesia. People, even the not-nice people, don’t do that in small Midwestern towns unless they’re having family feuds. And if Mavis actually wins straight arrow Buddy, what will he say about it?
And a lot of Buddy’s behavior, to me, was absolutely incomprehensible. If he doesn’t realize that Charlize Theron as Mavis, meeting him in a bar in a low-cut dress, is coming on to him, then he’s a dumbo. If he realizes, and wants to extricate himself, or is ambivalent about it, then he’s bizarrely inept at doing it. And if he‘s just confused about everything, and a little shy and unable to respond, he’s not like any small-town star jock I ever met. And not like the self-confident and alert guy Wilson portrays here.
Charlize Theron, as she proved in her Oscar-winning role as prostitute/serial-killer Aileen Wuornos, is a first-rate actress who can be daring, sharp and without vanity in her choice of roles. And in many ways, playing Mavis is a gutsy choice too, and a part she does well. Still, something always seems missing, even in her best scenes. In the lesser scenes, like odd blowup and breakdown at Buddy and Beth’s party, the flaws seem more obvious. These people, and even the kibitzers, just don’t behave like typical busy-body small-towners.
The Mavis-Matt relationship, while very well acted by Theron and Oswalt, always hovers on sentimentality, when what it needs is sentiment. And though I agree that it’s refreshing to have such an unlikable lead female protagonist, Mavis would be more interesting, more true-to-life and even funnier, if there were some scenes (other than just the big gift to Matt) that showed other, nicer sides of her. People, even the worst, whether in small towns or big cities, do have contradictory elements, and they’re more interesting when we see more or all of them.
Reitman’s and Cody’s Juno, which also had a sarcastic, unconventional, rebellious heroine (played by Ellen Page), was one of the comedy/critical hits of 2007 and Reitman’s last film, Up in the Air, was funny and perceptive, one of the comedy triumphs of 2009. This one is funny and sometimes perceptive too. But not always; Young Adult often seems a little forced and half-baked too. The movie essentially says you can’t go home again, at least on your own terms, and that’s probably right — at least in Mavis’ case. But it takes a lot of moxie to write about going home again too.
Oh, by the way, the idea that a knockout unattached ex-prom queen like Charlene’s Mavis would go back to Mercury, and not have at least two or three other guys and old classmates, trying to reconnect with her (an ideal comedy role for somebody like Thomas Haden Church) struck me as the biggest stretch of all.
I think it is vital that Charlize be acknowledged for this performance and it is vital these type performances get nominated at awards, even if they don’t always win, as they are more reflective of characters out there today and not necessarily written about enough. Quirky, ironic, funny modern female roles are rare and should be celebrated – Thanks Charlize, sure hope you around for awards season, you deserve too. We always only recognising real Life people or historic characters, these are the most difficult I think.
I’ve now seen this movie twice. Once at the New Beverly surprise screening and once at a guild screening and upon second viewing, this movie sat with me really well. I found it much more than entertaining, funny or amusing. One of the smartest, deepest movies I’ve seen in a long time — a character study, depicting a hyper view of characters we meet and know in real life – Charlize was BRILLIANT, plain and simple. No weight to gain, no ugly makeup, just her…. and she nails it. Screenplay was lacking the cuteness of Cody’s Juno, which was fine by me — still sharp as a tack but no “darling” lines. I was fascinated by Mavis and Matt’s relationship and without spoiling it for anyone, there is one scene between the two of them that I thought was some of the best acting I’ve seen onscreen this year. Patten Oswalt is, for me, the breakout actor of the year. people talk about Felicity Jones, Jessica Chastain (both great by the way), but this guy’s work in Young Adult is really masterful and brings the film its heart and soul. I disagree with MW’s review – this film is definitely among the best of the year and at the top of my personal list. Jason Reitman keeps making interesting, fresh and really wonderful films. I hope they all get to the Oscars this year, their work deserves it.