Review of Paper Towns (2015) by James S — 27 Jul 2015
This is my favourite book of John Green's, so I was very excited to see it adapted to the big screen. While I still prefer the book, the movie was an enjoyable watch.
The story centres on Q, an intelligent teen, who has a mega-crush on Margo, the Girl Next Door(TM). They have grown distant of late, until one night, when the two teens embark on a magical night of pranksmanship and revenge. Soon after, Q finds himself playing detective, trying to decipher Margo's last clues, all to prove his feelings for her.
The movie is well-cast, with Nat Wolff playing Q's determination well. Cara Delevigne was Ok as Margo, managing to capture her wild, carefree spirit most of the time. Austin Abrams was fine as Ben, while Justice Smith was excellent as Radar. Halston Sage did a fine job with Lacey, and Jaz Sinclair brought a lot to Angela.
The movie is well-seasoned with some great John Green humour, and the best parts of the book translate well to the screen. It certainly differs from the novel, but I didn't feel like the changes made any difference to me. The idea of imagining others complexly didn't shine through as much, but it was there, and this makes Paper Towns a fine adaptation of the novel.
This review of Paper Towns (2015) was written by James S on 27 Jul 2015.
Paper Towns has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
