Review of Paper Towns (2015) by Danny M — 27 Nov 2015

We're going to try and keep this review fair and strictly based on the film; though factors of the book will indirectly affect this rating. First, I can be a sucker for these types of films. I was ultimately very disappointed in the Fault In Our Stars, and I am grateful to say Paper Towns is a better film, one that isn't nearly as overwrought and takes itself a lot more casually.

The film does stay generally true to the book for the sake of those who are super picky about that kind of thing. Nat Wolff plays Q well, and Cara Delevingne, though sometimes uneven, was much better than I had expected as Margo. The remaining four secondary protagonists were all good enough in my opinion. Overall, solid casting.

Sometimes Paper Towns does try to take that precocious theme that is common with a John Green story, but overall I felt it was more pretentious and typical. The film opens up with giving some narrative about miracles. Basically its some tiresome teenage "deep philosophy" that already lets you know what you're in for. Keeping with that trend, naturally, Margo is some vinyl-collecting, poetry-reading hipster-wannabe girl who writes with capitalized letters in the middle of her sentences just because. In that regard, Paper Towns feels like they are playing things safe, though that is more an affect of the source material.

Paper Towns is a fun movie. Its light, charming, and only suffers from some typical cliches and the occasionally slow pacing.