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Rating: Country: USA Release Date: August 25, 2009 Distributor: Miramax Director: · Greg Mottola Cast: · Jesse Eisenberg · Kristen Stewart · Ryan Reynolds · Martin Starr · Bill Hader · Kristen Wiig Related Sites: · Official site · IMDb: Adventureland · Kennywood Park: filming location · The real Adventureland Grade: A-

This is the story of an Ivy League graduate's first foray into the working world. Unfortunately, the only job he can get is at a rundown amusement park called Adventureland.

Jesse Eisenberg is James Brennan, a guy who reads poetry for fun and gets his heart broken at graduation by a girl he's been dating for all of eleven days. Unsurprisingly, he develops feelings for fellow 'carnie' Em (Kristen Stewart, "Twilight") within minutes of meeting her. Em appreciates that James is a nice guy, but she's got some issues which prevent her from letting him get too close.

James, despite being a bit of a pansy, becomes popular with most of the Adventureland employees due to his likeable nature and copious supply of marijuana. When the opportunity to date the park's resident hot chick Lisa P (Margarita Levieva) arises, James sets his feelings for Em aside with the help of Mike Connell (Ryan Reynolds), a washed-up musician turned handsome handyman. But does Connell have his own agenda? And what kind of secrets is Em hiding? 

The movie is set in 1987, but uses the timeframe as a scenic backdrop rather than as fodder for jokes. There's plenty of bad hair and good music, but no overt references to leg warmers or parachute pants. The dialogue is excellent, much of it perhaps lifted from director Greg Mottola's own experiences working at a similar park. Kristen Stewart does a phenomenal job, this movie being yet another reminder of how tragic it is she's wasting her talents playing a klutzy, wannabe housewife in the "Twilight" series.

"Adventureland" isn't particularly exciting or hilarious, but it works because of its believable characters and the very real situations in which they find themselves. This film will resonate with anyone who has ever worked a crappy job where all the employees partied together -- drinking, getting high, hooking up, fighting, etc. Though the major storyline revolves around the resolution of the fledgling relationship between James and Em, the overall film is a humorous and insightful look at how bad experiences can lead to tremendous personal growth.

Bonus features include the director's commentary, deleted scenes, and "The Making of Adventureland," a more in-depth look at the story's genesis and setting, narrated by Mottola and several cast members.

Previews include "Extract" and "American Son."