Soon after her divorce, the ghost-writer of a popular fiction series returns to her hometown with plans of winning back her Highschool love who is now happily married with a newborn.
**note, there are very slight spoilers in this review
Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) has issues. This is brought to our attention in the very first scenes of Young Adult. Before the open credits roll we already know that she most likely has a drinking problem, is lonely and starved for attention, has writers block and that all signs point to her dealing with a serious bout of depression. The birth announcement received from an old Highschool love doesn't help the situation. It does, however, serve as motivation for her to go back to her hometown to visit her old flame Buddy (Patrick Wilson) and try to rekindle their love.
Young Adult is directed by Jason Reitman who at only 35 years of age is proving to be one of the brightest young directors in Hollywood. He brought us Thank You For Smoking, Juno, Up In The Air and now Young Adult in which he re-teams with Juno writer Diablo Cody. That's a pretty damn impressive first four movies. For those turned off by the dialogue in Juno can rest assured that Cody pulls in the reigns and delivers a sharp and witty script without all the "honest to blog" distractions. With Young Adult Reitman is as confident and precise as ever, and he has to be because his main character is pretty detestable. Since watching the film I've been asking myself why it exists. Going by the trailer you might think this is a comedy. It's funny but in an uncomfortable way. Your laughs will more than likely be defense mechanisms (I hope) to deal with the actions and words of the main characters. So, what is the point of this story? Why should I tell other people to watch such a detestable main character?
The answer to that question starts (after the previously mentioned direction of Reitman) with Charlize Theron. It can be argued that this role is the best of her career. She is a master of the body language and facial twitches/distortions of the severely cynical and emotionally damaged Gary. She is controlled and never over the top. From the opening credits where she is singing along to the mix tape Buddy gave her (the same song over and over; you know you've done it too), to scoffing at a blind date's humanitarian efforts before realizing it may have hurt her chances at sleeping with him, to pretending she remembers who Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt) is when she really doesn't; she is absolutely perfect and painfully joyous to watch.
The answer continues with Patton Oswalt as Freehauf and the relationship his character develops with Theron's Gary. They meet early on at a local watering hole and become partners in cynicism and self destruction. While they appear to be polar opposites, the parallels found between the two characters are fascinating. He is constantly trying to keep her from tearing a marriage apart, and appears to be the voice of reason, but it slowly becomes more and more apparent that he has more in common with Gary then he chooses to admit.
The issues arise as the climax is reached and the viewer realizes that no one has learned anything. Its a really tough story to sell as filmmakers. There is no one to root for. Moviegoers usually want some hope, some growth in the characters, some sort of cathartic realization or at the very least a resolution. Unfortunately, you're not going to get that with Young Adult. It's a story about a damaged person, who finds someone else damaged and they stew in each others bad attitudes. However, people like this exist and I think their stories are interesting and deserve to be told. They may have been better people earlier in their lives, they have excuses for their issues (questionable parenting, divorce, a traumatic beating), and it's possible that they might change in the future, however in the running time of this film they are who they are. I think there are redeeming aspects in the actions of the other character's in the film, mainly Buddy and his wife Beth, who are more aware of Mavis' issues then she is herself. I also have no doubt that there are people out there who will relate to Mavis Gary and Matt Freehauf and while the character's don't resolve anything by the end of the film, the viewers who relate to them may learn a little about themselves.
So why should you watch Young Adult? It's a wonderfully crafted film with outstanding performances by Theron and Oswalt that challenges you to find joy in watching two people stumble through a short period in their lives.
