Review of The Spectacular Now (2013) by Zane M — 04 Apr 2014

Put on your specs (if you need them) and take a closer look at a luminous teen romance movie which is very reminiscent of the classic teen flicks of the 80's such as "Say Anything", "Pretty in Pink", and "Some Kind of Wonderful".

The present-day some kind of wonderful movie I am referring to is "The Spectacular Now". The movie stars Miles Teller as Sutter, a hard-partying high school senior who has some internal emotional battles going on.

Sutter is a pleasant guy but his hard- partying ways might be a recipe for disaster. He has just been dumped by his ex Cassidy which puts him even more in the partying mode by dealing with the heartbreak.

But things quickly change for Sutter, as fast as a Bruce Sutter fastball from the 70's (OK, only baseball fans got that one), in the like of Aimee played by Shailene Woodley; she is a nice, pretty, but not-too-popular classmate of Sutter.

They first meet when Aimee finds Sutter passed out on her front lawn. That is when she gets a rifle points it at him and says "get off my lawn"; Kidding, Kidding! I am writing this as am riding in a Gran Torino.

OK, enough. What that lawn incident really commences is a friendship then romance between Sutter & Aimee. Director James Ponsoldt spectacularly orchestrates "The Spectacular Now" not with a caricature stereotypical aspect of teenage characters, but with a refreshing authentic look at modern teenage life and the challenges & situations brought upon them in family life, high school environments, and romantic relationships.

Sutter lives with his single mom who is estranged from Sutter's father. Sutter is upset with his mom why he cannot get in contact with his father; and that sets up a major "BabySutter" moment in the movie; OK, maybe not that baby, but its an integral part of the narrative.

Writers Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber's screenplay of the movie was touching, comical, and endearing. Tell him and tell her about it when I say that Miles Teller reminds me of a young Tom Hanks! Did I Sutter, I mean Studder!! His work as Sutter was nothing short of phenomenal.

Woodley also brought the acting hardwood here with her astounding work as Aimee. Other admirable acting performances were derived from Brie Larson as Cassidy, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Sutter's sis Holly, Jennifer Jason-Leigh as momma Sara, and Kyle Chandler in a small but poignant role as Sutter's self-absorbed poppa Tommy.

"The Spectacular Now" might not be the most spectacular film of 2013, but it is one of the most spectacular movies I have seen about teenage life in a long, long time. So live in the now, and go see it right now! ***** Excellent.