Young Adult

Name: Young Adult
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 9, 2011
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 71

2011

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Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 201 Ratings

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 201 Ratings

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Young Adult

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 9, 2011 | R

Summary: Mavis Gary is a writer of teen literature who returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart. When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate who hasn't quite gotten over high school, either. (ParamountMavis Gary is a writer of teen literature who returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart. When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate who hasn't quite gotten over high school, either. (Paramount Pictures)

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Director: Jason Reitman

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Steve Persall

Dec 14, 2011

It's the most unsettling nice surprise of 2011. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Dec 8, 2011

A cockeyed comic triumph that flashes between bright and dark like a strobe light of the spirit. And Ms. Theron, as Mavis Gary, a self-styled author rather than a mere writer, succeeds sensationally at something much harder than playing ravaged. Read full review

Alison Willmore

Dec 7, 2011

Reitman lets the pop-culture references (oh hi, 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up") accessorize the story rather than guide it, and in its uncompromising treatment of a character who's troubled but also a stone-cold bitch, Young Adult offers compassion for rather than revenge on the "psycho prom queen" who has nothing left in life but a warped mix-tape from an ex who moved on long ago. Read full review

Bob Mondello

Dec 9, 2011

So it makes sense that Young Adult feels at times like a mashup of styles and genres - part curdled rom-com, part psycho-prom-queen flick, with a little "Revenge of the Nerds" thrown in. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Dec 4, 2011

Their scenes together are the film's best, with Theron and Oswalt, who have very different tempi and temperatures as performers, parrying and thrusting with great expertise. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Dec 15, 2011

Though marketed as a comedy, this film is too creepy and acerbic to be consistently comic. Read full review

David Edelstein

Dec 27, 2011

The movie spreads bad vibes like a virus. Read full review

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User Reviews

MRedzuan

Mar 2, 2012

Young Adult touches so close to home for me, not being able to let go. One can't help but to ponder and contemplate the supposedly glorious days of the past and reflect on our past mistakes, on what could've been and what should've been. The opportunity that we're given now in the present isYoung Adult touches so close to home for me, not being able to let go. One can't help but to ponder and contemplate the supposedly glorious days of the past and reflect on our past mistakes, on what could've been and what should've been. The opportunity that we're given now in the present is all that matters. The past is in the past, we just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get ready for what lies ahead. Our best years are still ahead of us, it's time to look into the future, start a new chapter. Life, here I come.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

heime2003

Oct 4, 2012

charlize theron is the reason of me to watching this movie. she is rare beauty in hollywood without make ups or lighting effect. story and acting is suprisingly good and even though plot is not lengthy or clever, this movie made me think about what a life is.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CitizenCharlie

Jan 3, 2012

I always wondered what happened to that girl from high school. You know the one, her locker was right next to yours for four straight years, but she never knew your name. She spent more time staring into the pocket mirror attached to the inside of her locker than at any of her classmates.I always wondered what happened to that girl from high school. You know the one, her locker was right next to yours for four straight years, but she never knew your name. She spent more time staring into the pocket mirror attached to the inside of her locker than at any of her classmates. She was homecoming and prom queen, she was socially above the common man, and all she wanted to do was see your small town in her rearview mirror as she escaped to the big city after graduation. Luckily for us, director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody have reconnected (they first worked together on Juno) to let us know exactly what happened to that girl from high school.

Mavis (Charlize Theron) is now 37, lives in Minneapolis, and is a ghostwriter for a young adult series (think Sweet Valley High) whose popularity is in severe decline. She wakes up every morning severely hung over from the night before, ignores her pocket-sized dog, and always has a dating website open on her web browser while she attempts to writer her next chapter just in case she gets a notification of a potential match. In other words, Mavis is not doing very well. An unexpected e-mail shakes her out of her stumbling stupor one morning when a birth announcement arrives from her long ago high school ex-boyfriend Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson); he is now the father of a brand new baby girl.

Events are now set in motion as Mavis impulsively packs a suitcase, drives a few hours to her old and small hometown, and aims to break up Buddy and his wife Beth (Elizabeth Reaser). With no evidence whatsoever, Mavis just knows Buddy is unhappy in his marriage and longs to be rescued by the one girl he was meant to be with, Mavis. She considers the institution of marriage as a disease, a problem which can be cured through a quick divorce. Mavis also brings her old habits back to town with her; she continues to wake up slobbering drunk every morning, wears revealing clothes which would not only seem out of place in Minneapolis, but downright foreign in small town America, and whether intentionally or just plain out of habit, talks down condescendingly to anyone who never left town the way she did.

While guzzling one of her many double whiskeys at a local dive bar one night, Mavis runs into Matt (Patton Oswalt), a guy who she barely remembers from school. Matt reminds her his locker was right next to hers for four years and through a combination of proximity and drunkenness, Matt becomes Mavis… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

HomeReviewer

May 16, 2012

Jason Reitman, son of fame director Ivan Reitman, is likely a better director than his dad, as evidenced by his last three movies before this one, namely 'Up In The Air', 'Juno' and 'Thank You For Smoking'. So, as you may well guess, him being the director of this movie was a big selectionJason Reitman, son of fame director Ivan Reitman, is likely a better director than his dad, as evidenced by his last three movies before this one, namely 'Up In The Air', 'Juno' and 'Thank You For Smoking'. So, as you may well guess, him being the director of this movie was a big selection factor, but not as important as that of the lead actor, and Oscar winner, Charlize Theron.

The storyline and the trailers/previews are way misleading; this is a far better movie than either let on. It is also not a comedy nor a heavy drama, which you may easily have come to think; it is a character study of a woman with deep seeded problems, which problems are aggravated by alcoholism. As can be expected, Theron delivers her role with flair and professional excellence. The direction takes full advantage of all her talents and the use of close-ups in just the right measure and superb timing only enhance that performance.

Further enjoyment of the story comes from a narative by Theron/Mavis, writing and speaking only for the audience to hear when she is at her laptop, the words her alter ego character Kendell says in reflective style, in Mavis' book. That process of writing allows her to express vicariously through Kendell her personal feelings, and explain her desires through the literary figure Kendell. More interesting than straight dialogue, and so flexible, it allows her to spin in the best light, actions and moments that otherwise are not. Artistic license is precious, is it not?

Patrick Watson, a very busy actor, who impressed the hell out of me with his co-starring role in 'Hard Candy', only had a sort of supporting role here; he did a good enough job (opposite Theron, one would be outshined). The surprise I thought, and I like good surprises, was the role of, and performance by Patton Oswalt. He is also a busy actor but not one who we associate with dramatic roles; in this movie, he shines in a dramatic character role. What a delightful surprise. The writing, by Diablo Cody, a writer who is making a name for herself, was in good part the reason for Oswalt's performance. The critics were good for this movie and I'm obviously in agreement.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

adnan_soysal

Sep 26, 2020

Until the middle of the movie it feels boring, and viewer waits story to start. A writer, Mavis (Charlize Theron), in her mid 30's is divorced, and she feels unfulfilled, unhappy. She is also having trouble finishing her latest book that is part of her young adult novels series. She feelsUntil the middle of the movie it feels boring, and viewer waits story to start. A writer, Mavis (Charlize Theron), in her mid 30's is divorced, and she feels unfulfilled, unhappy. She is also having trouble finishing her latest book that is part of her young adult novels series. She feels that she is done with these books, and does not know what is next. Because her success in these novels mostly based on her acquaintances with jerk life culture in high school. And now it is about to finish. Then she receives an email from her old boy friend Buddy (Patrick Wilson), that he got a daughter in his marriage. She takes this email as an invitation to reunite again, and goes back to her home town.

She tries to seduces Buddy to reunite again. and that is noticeable. When she is invited to Buddy house, she makes remarks to his wife Beth (Elizabeth Reaser) that her baby looks like her, not Buddy. Mavis' friction eventually outbursts at baby's name giving party when Beth bumps her spilling wine on Mavi's dress. She directly tells in the party why she returned back to town. She shouts at them "What is wrong with you people?" In fact her inquiry is how on earth you simple people could be so happy with your poor lifes . She is angry at them, but also jealous of them. How on earth they are feeling so fulfilled while she is not.

I think this was the twisting point in the movie. And I started to like, and have sympathy for Mavis. After the party she goes to another class mate's Matt, home and and seduce him to sex. In the morning , she talks with Matt's sister, Sandra. She cries confessing its is very difficult her to be happy for her. Sandra tells Mavis that she is better than everyone in the the town. That was striking moment for Mavis that she realized it is true. She feels sorry for feeling like dump and seeking love of Buddy. She remembers she is indeed better than these people. And then she leaves the house. Sandra asks her to take with her. But now, Mavis was a different person looking to the future, leaving everything about her old town behind. She said no Sandra.

Movie ends with question still hanging in the air for her. happiness. journey or a destination?

Both Charlize Theron, and Patrick Wilson were good choices for these roles.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trev29

Apr 8, 2012

Not exactly what I thought I was in store for. The movie played on unsympathetically. There was no room for cliche endings where the character is drastically changed. The movie was itself odd and uninterestingly made. However, Charlize was quite spectacular.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

breakfastmonkey

Mar 25, 2012

There are no redeeming elements to this story whatsoever. The story tries to find some aspect of heartfelt emotion only to display awkward unbelievable moment after moment. With incomprehensible situations that leave the viewer cringing. By the climax you are holding on with a last thread ofThere are no redeeming elements to this story whatsoever. The story tries to find some aspect of heartfelt emotion only to display awkward unbelievable moment after moment. With incomprehensible situations that leave the viewer cringing. By the climax you are holding on with a last thread of investment for some type of redemption for this waste of time only to be utterly disappointed.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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74	#74 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
2	#2 Most Shared Movie of 2011