Review of Paper Towns (2015) by Orlando O — 18 Nov 2015

Paper Towns is a mystery comedy coming of age type of film that has a fun cast, but the movie itself is a one long dull road trip that you have to sit through to get the meaningful message in the end. From the same author, who wrote The Fault in Our Stars, did Paper Towns. The story of Paper Towns did not have any emotional connection with the characters. Besides, the direction of Fault in Our Stars was well suited and the emotional connection with the characters was developed better. The narration of Paper Towns was not as fun, it is about three geeky best friends Q (Nat Wolff), Ben (Austin Abrams), and Marcus (Justice Smith) trying to enjoy their remaining few weeks of high school, before they part ways to college. Q and his childhood friend Margo (Cara Delevingne) have drifted apart over the years, until one night she sneaks into his room asking for a ride to make several stops. Q and Margo get closer as a friend, as she plots a revenge act towards the people that broke her heart as a friend or her ex boyfriend. Then, the following morning Margo disappears, while leaving clues behind for Q to follow up on them. Q, Ben, and Marcus go on a road trip following clues to where Margo could be located, as they grow closer as friends.

The film does have that mystery story, Margo and her perspective on how she sees the world. She dislikes the same predictable life that every teen has planned out for them. She is an individual that will steer clear from most teens, but at the same time leaving clues for her whereabouts. She and Q have an uneventful night when they spend time with each other, and Q feeling a little alive when it comes to him doing things that can get him into trouble. Q has been so wrapped up in his own world; he never actually lived his life as he went through high school.

The film does have talented casts like Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams, and Justice Smith. The direction is dull, as we see these teens trying to get a date for prom, one trying to be open and honest with his girlfriend, and the other searching for a girl that he may be in love with, as these clues are leading them further away from home. Paper Towns may not be as fun for a coming of age film; it was a fair movie that did not have much going on.