Movie Review: Young Adult

Cory and I don't go to the local movie theater on a regular basis because there happens to be a quaint (reasonably priced) independent theater in Baltimore that we really love. However, every now and then a movie will come to town that we really want to see (ie: Harry Potter) and we'll treat ourselves.

Last weekend, after a long week of intense traveling, we finally had a night at home. After taking down our Christmas decorations and cooking dinner, we headed to the theater to see Charlize Theron's new film, Young Adult. 

 

Young Adult, written and directed by Diablo Cody, the mastermind behind Juno, tells the story of Mavis Gary, the author of a young adult book series that is coming to an end due to low sales. After a tumultuous divorce, an unhealthy lifestyle, and the realization that her life in Minneapolis isn't as rewarding as desired, Mavis travels back home to reconnect with her high school flame, Buddy Slade.

Once Mavis is back home, we see her coping with being back in her small Minnesota hometown and seeing all those people out at the bar that she didn't really want to see. If you're from a small town, but left for college or whatever reason, you will completely identify with her situation. 

Here's the beauty of Young Adult. Theron and Cody combine their mystical movie-magic powers to allow Mavis to be this raw, incredibly vulnerable character. I feel in deep, deep love with Mavis toward the end of the film, as I could relate to many of her comments and behaviors. I think we all hit a moment where we just want life to be easy. We all see our successes, but sometimes it is so difficult to come to terms with our failures, that we automatically revert to our once-loved selves, be it in high school, college, or life beyond. There are those people who make us feel good when we feel so incredibly bad within. Is there shame in wanting to surround yourself with people who love you when it seems impossible to love yourself? I don't know the answer, but I think Mavis Grey allows us to recognize that those behaviors and thoughts we try to hide are quite normal.

 

I think we all have this dream of who we want to be and who we wish we had one more chance with, but when do we move beyond it? Do we ever?

Now, I understand where this may sound like a typical chick flick, but believe me it is not. Cory loved this film as much as I did, and beyond that, the standard Diablo Cody humor makes the movie feel as if anyone could be Mavis Grey, male or female. 

If you have seen Young Adult, I would love to hear your thoughts! If you haven't seen it yet, I strongly encourage you head to the theater!