YOUNG ADULT
US, 2011, 94 minutes, Colour.
Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Collette Wolfe, Jill Eikenberry, Mary Beth Hurt.
Directed by Jason Reitman.
Don’t be looking for a young adult in this wry comedy drama. Young Adult is a book industry term for the niche market for novels that appeal to young adults. Charlize Theron plays Mavis, an author of a series that has been popular but has run its course. Of course, the more we get to know her, we realise that she has not really grown up and is the equivalent of a young adult. And when she decides to take her life in hand (most unsuccessfully), she makes it the equivalent of the novel that she is trying to finish at the same time.
Mavis is divorced but has idolised her high school boyfriend, Buddy (Patrick Wilson). Impulsively, after she has received an email that he and his wife have had a baby, she goes back home to snare him because she believes he really loves her. As we discover, Matt is a fairly simple soul, in love with his wife and bewildered by Mavis’ heavy handed behaviour. It has to blow up – and it does, at a gathering to celebrate the baby, more than a moment of humiliation for Mavis.
When she arrived back at the town where she grew up, she had encountered Matt, a crippled man, at the bar. Eventually, she recognises him as the boy everyone picked on, tagging him as gay. A group of boys have ensured that he is disabled for life. But he works at a diner, has a shed where he makes things, lives with his sister – and has quite some heart to hearts with Mavis. He is played well by Patton Oswalt.
The film is a collaboration between writer, Diablo Cody, and director, Jason Reitman (who were responsible for the well received portrait of teenage love and angst, Juno). Had Juno not faced her life and responsibilities, she might have finished up like Mavis. Diablo Cody writes some sharp lines with touches of ironic humour. Reitman has a flair for this type of comedy, having directed Thank You for Smoking and Up in the Air as well.
This is an American portrait, a picture of a loser who, when completely humiliated and disabused of her fantasies, might make a go of life – but it will be hard going. The film has a strong performance by Charlize Theron.
1. The title, expectations? The books for Young Adults? Capital Y, capital A? Mavis and her writing, identifying with the characters? A young immature adult? Her story reflecting her life?
2. The Minnesota settings, Midwest? Minneapolis, Mercury, the countryside, the town, the apartments and hotels, bars and diners? The vistas of the modern town in America? The takeaway places? The musical score?
3. Mavis’s story, sleeping, awake, her disorder, drinking the Coca-Cola?, her pet dog and care of the dog, watching soap operas and such programs on TV? Her writing, the message about the baby, printing it out, her preoccupation, her listening to the young people in the shop, texture or chemistry ...? Her date, going home the sexual encounter, her decision to pack, leaving, driving and observing the countryside? The hotel, the hotel front desk and her wry remarks, especially about the dog? Settling into the hotel?
4. Mavis’s motives, reconnecting with Buddy? Her memories, her phone calls to him, the date? Her mental and emotional condition? In the bar, her drinking, the encounter with Matt, talking with him, remembering the hate crime, the revelations about herself in the past, his reactions? The date with Buddy, meeting Matt again, Buddy not drinking, her ordering the drinks, his happy marriage, her inability to see this, imposing her own ideas? Matt and his hints warning her off? Buddy leaving, going home for the babies, the baby food, care for his wife?
5. The visit to Matt, meeting Sandra and her memories of the past, Matt’s laboratory, the moonshine, the drinking, their talking, Matthew’s story, the persecution at school, considered gay, the injuries? Sexual dysfunction? Audience sympathy for him?
6. Mavis and her meeting up with Buddy, going to hear the band, Beth playing, her wanting to stay, Mavis driving him home, the kiss, observed by the babysitter? Buddy’s bewilderment?
7. The baby-naming ceremony, the preparation, Mavis and her buying clothes, the make-up, her nails etc? The setup, her wanting to talk to Buddy alone, the truth, her being upset, Buddy’s reactions, her drinking, her bumping into Beth, the wine stain? The extensive harangue, her madness, her mother’s appeal, Buddy’s mother? Her story about the pregnancy? What might have happened? Her leaving?
8. Going to Matt, the explanations, talking about her being at her best or not? Getting his shirt, the sexual provocation, his sympathy, the encounter? The impact for Matt? For Mavis? For Sandra? Sandra and her plain talking, wanting to go with Mavis?
9. The interplay of Mavis’s life and crises, with the narration of her fiction? The high schoolers in the fiction – and she being the equivalent? The parallels?
10. Her parents, their being upbeat, her mother picking her up, the photos, their clashes? At the baby-naming?
11. Buddy’s mother, Mavis’s story and her appeal? The story of the pregnancy, true or not? Whether this mattered or not?
12. Mavis and her decision, the end of the stay, the end of the story, the hero being lost at sea, a new beginning?
13. A portrait of a woman who hadn’t grown up? Self-absorbed? Vain? Talented? The insights? Presented with psychological insight and with wit?
