Adventureland Is a Sweet Ride

Retro coming-of-age movie will touch nostalgic hearts
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 3, 2009 8:35 AM CDT

Coming-of-age romance Adventureland isn't a rollercoaster of surprises, critics say, but it's still honest and poignant enough to be touching—especially if you grew up in the '80s.

  • Todd McCarthy, Variety: "A rather ordinary account of youthful summer misadventures that goes down easily thanks to a sparky cast, more than 40 pop tunes that anchor the action in the late '80s, and characters who get high both on and off their jobs at a tacky amusement park."

  • Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Superbad director Greg Mottola "has taken that most overdone of contemporary genres, the coming-of-age story, and made it engaging, bittersweet and even fun."
  • Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: "A confident return to the kind of teen comedy that's funny without being raunchy, youthful without being juvenile, and reflective without hitting you over the head."
(More movies stories.)

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