Wow, it’s like a mother load payoff. We’ve been waiting and waiting for Greg Mottola’s follow-up to “Superbad,” the coming-of-age dramedy “Adventureland,” and now every thing’s arrived: the trailer, the poster and new images from the film.
We’ve written about the film a ton and based on the fantastic script we called it a film that has all the potential to be “the ‘Rushmore’ of 2009,” yeah, it’s that good. Here’s the synopsis:
It’s the summer of 1987, and James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), an uptight recent college grad, can’t wait to embark on his dream tour of Europe. But when his parents (Wendie Malick and Jack Gilpin) announce they can no longer subsidize his trip, James has little choice but to take a lowly job at a local amusement park. Forget about German beer, world-famous museums and cute French girls-James’ summer will now be populated by belligerent dads, stuffed pandas, and screaming kids high on cotton candy. Lucky for James, what should have been his worst
summer ever turns into quite an adventure as he discovers love in the most unlikely place with his captivating co-worker Em (Kristen Stewart), and learns to loosen up.
The The film also features, Ryan Reynolds (“Just Friends,” “Van Wilder”), Martin Starr (“Knocked Up,” “Superbad”), and “Saturday Night Live” cast members Kristen Wiig (“Knocked Up”) and Bill Hader (“Superbad,” “Tropic Thunder”).
Written and directed by Mottola, drawn from his own job-from-hell experience his creative team includes cinematographer Terry Stacey (“The Nanny Diaries,” “Dexter”), production designer Stephen Beatrice (“Then She Found Me,” “Sherrybaby”), costume designer Melissa Toth (“No Reservations,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”), and editor Anne McCabe (“Maria Full of Grace,” “You Can Count on Me”).
We’ve already written quite a bit about the music of “Adventureland” (Hoboken indie-rock trio Yo La Tengo is composing the score) and ton of the music of it is written right into the script, Smiths, (“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,”) , The Replacements (“Bastards of The Young,” “Willpower”), and songs by The Buzzcocks, Lou Reed, Level 42, Buckner & Garcia , El Debarge, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers and many many more (full list here).
On his myspace, Mottola lists his favorite artists:
Lou Reed, Yo La Tengo, Paul Westerberg, Alex Chilton, Jim James, M. Ward, The Decemberists, Belle & Sebastian, Morrissey, Vetiver, Bonnie Prince Billy, Tom Waits, Brian Eno, Gram Parsons, Merle Haggard, Gillian Welch, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Chet Baker, Lester Young, Frank Sinatra, Django Reinhardt, Nino Rota and all those friggin’ pop songs stuck in my head.
Perhaps a clue of more music to be featured in the film? The script already does list over a dozen songs in the film, but Motolla once said there were over 50-songs featured in the film and James McNew of Yo La Tengo told us he heard some Hüsker Dü in it as well.
The trailer features Rush’s “Limelight” (how amazing is that?) and the “Blister In the Sun” by the Violent Femmes. There’s no release date on the film yet, but as we reported earlier this year, it’s a Spring 2009 target date. The trailer makes it look a little serious than it is in the screenplay (which has lots of “Rushmore”-esque melancholy moments), but it still looks great and we can’t wait to see it. One of 2009’s most-anticipated as far as we’re concerned.
According to IMDB the film comes out March 27, 2009, but trusting IMDB with 100% accuracy is something we’d never recommend.
Read the screenplay too, totally Rushmore-esque, and I lurve Rushmore, so. I think I might give the screenplay a re-read, and I never do that.
Having read that screenplay closely, i feel like Bill Hader and Kirsten Wiig seem too goofy for their roles in this movie. That’s my worry.
I always picture Hader’s character as played by Bobby Carnavale (who i adore) even though i knew Hader had the part.
I hope the film isn’t as silly as it seems in the trailer (which does look good, but it gives me some pause for concern), cause the script is so melancholy and real and much, much more than just a teen comedy. Fingers crossed. I didn’t feel like i had time to get into it in the post, but the trailer does worry me a tiny bit.
Maybe i need to stop reading scripts cause i end up picturing it perfectly in my mind and if it doesn’t play out like that, I get really disappointed.
I dunno. This trailer really doesn’t do anything for me besides play the now overly used Blister in the Sun (ahhhh, Grosse Point Blank). I can’t help but picture Michael Cera in the lead, and perhaps it should’ve been him. I haven’t read the script though and Michael Cera is a bit one note, but at least he can make me laugh, cause Jessie doesn’t (or didn’t in the trailer at least).
As far as the Rushmore comparisons, I hope you’re right as Rushmore is my number five favorite film of all time (I finally finished my list). Thing is, I have heard the Rushmore comparisons before, which only let me down. Alot of films can seem Rushmore, but few actually pull it off.
It sounds as though this film will have alot of movie music moment potential. But again, it would have to be more like Rushmore and less like High Fidelity. That film had 50 plus songs too, but only a few movie music moments, while every song used in Rushmore created one (The Who being the highlight, along with the Stones and The Faces). Looks like they’re doing the 80s music thing here, which can be fine with the likes of The Smiths and The Replacements.
I bet the March 27th release date is correct, and imdb messge board also has some positive responses from people who’ve seen it already.
Like i said, the trailer worries me next to the Rushmore comparisons. The script however does not.It’s not “Rushmore”-esque really – the tones are completely different, it doesn’t read like a Wes Anderson film at all, nor will it look like one but it does have some of the unrequited love themes done with similar quality.
When I read all I could think of was “The Wackness.” Rushmore never really came into mind.
When I watched this all I thought of was “The Sure Thing” and I’m totes going to see it. Also, I’m 100% all in on anything Kristen Wiig does.
Anything billed as “the next ____” is never the next “____” or seldom even good at all.
This film looks like the typical Apatow-produced stuff with some Napoleon Dynamite/Juno/Nick and Norah’s whatever flourishes in there. Which makes sense since Mottola did Superbad and now it’s time for his Pete Sollett-style Indiewood Project.
True, they rarely are, but based on the script it as the potential to be amazing. Motolla did just say on his Facebook, “I hope Superbad fans are ok with the fact that there’s drama in here too” which tells you the trailer is cut – like all trailers are – to appeal to the largest number of audiences.
I still am holding out hope that it’ll be a new classic or at least a cut above Juno/NickNora/Napolean Dynamite.
I’ve read a lot of message boards where people dog on Superbad as being “poorly directed.” Am I crazy for thinking Superbad was the best directed of the Apatow pictures thus far? It felt far more cinematic and tighter than anything Apatow or his other minions have done.
I think this looks great by the way. Can tell they’re cutting it to appeal to the Superbad audience, but the cast alone tells me there’s going to be some drama in this (which is why you hire Jesse Eisenberg and not Michael Cera). This plot is also something I can relate to very much.
Is it hard for a movie to cut above the absurdity displayed in Dynamite?
every time i visit your page this stupid video plays.
CAN YOU NOT DISABLE AUTOPLAY?
Consideration, folks.
Man, I hope your right about this movie being the Rushmore of 2009, my publisher just contacted me to let me know that my song “City Girls” by The Programaddicts is going to be in the film. http://adventureland.theprogramaddicts.com I can’t wait to hear who else has music in there other than the obvious ones in the trailer.
A lot of good music, there’s like 50+ songs in the film. search around our blog and you’ll see lots of the confirmed and potential music.
That’s great! I love the Programaddicts! “City Girls” is definitely a hot track