Do you think Kristen is wishing she could go back to dating the Rob Pattinson-league?

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Bill Hader
Director: Greg Mottola
Screenwriter: Greg Mottola

Adventureland is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy brought to us by the highly acclaimed director of Superbad (Mottola) with a number of familiar faces from Mottola’s commercial breakthrough teen blockbuster taking on the tale of an ordinary summer in which a post graduate generation are faced with the financial responsibilities of life after Grad School. Simple, right?

Early 20-something male virgin James played by Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale) is waiting to fall in love before having what he refers to as “intercourse�, and then along comes Twilight’s Kristen Stewart (who in real life is rumoured to be dating Twilight co-star Robert Pattison). Em (Stewart) has been sexually promiscuous since High School and is keeping entertained in her dead-end summer job at the amusement park by having an affair with the married maintenance man. And here we have our stereotypical gender role reversal, which helps make this tale different from cherry popping romcoms that have gone before.

James had planned on travelling around Europe during the summer of 1987, however due the economic downturn affecting his parent’s finances he is faced with the prospect of getting a job at the unappealing amusement park in his home town of Pittsburgh. By making the most of the social aspects his Adventureland job offers he soon makes friends, has fun and even falls in love.

Adventureland combines Superbad‘s gross-out humour (vomiting and ejaculation gags) and Juno’s real-life issues plus a love triangle between Eisenburg, Stewart and Ryan Reynolds (Just Friends, Smokin’ Aces). In fact, the line between Superbad and Juno becomes so blurred that at times you could be mistaken for thinking that you are watching Michael Cera (star of Superbad, Juno) as Eisenburg’s characterisation of James is extremely similar to Cera’s signature style, minus the baby face.

Mottola has included an array of great comical stereotypes (including dumb beauties and greasy haired geeks) to create realistically compelling characters against the much loved, and much laughed at, backdrop of the 80s. Hilarious Bill Hader (Superbad, Tropic Thunder) dominates the outlandish humour, while Stewart and Eisenburg deliver angst drama throughout the rest of the storyline leaving you disappointed at times that you are not laughing a little more.

With most of the characters playing college graduates, and therefore legally allowed to drink alcohol, smoking weed becomes the only rebellious ‘coming-of-age’ pass time used to appeal to a young, experimental target audience. The underage teens in American Pie drank alcohol to rebel, while the young adults in Adventureland smoke spliffs while drink driving. After all, you can’t have post-grad angst without some form of law-breaking intoxication.

This is, however, a great role reversal romcom with quality injections of Superbad silliness alongside well acted drama. Eisenberg and Stewart portray a probable and realistic romance while Hader and his magnificent moustache add some laugh out loud humour.

Not much happens but that seems to be what makes it such an ordinary tale of a boring summer stuck in a dull job that inevitably leads to the kind of intoxicated fuelled time that every young adult has encountered. Throw in a few great one-liners, a pinch of crude behaviour and a plausible sweet romance and you have a summer romcom that everyone will enjoy.

Adventureland is in cinemas 11th September 2009 via Disney

By Laura Corns