Review of The Spectacular Now (2013) by Panta O — 25 Jan 2014

Cute and sweet, this film directed by James Ponsoldt, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (based on the book of the same name by Tim Tharp), and starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley, entertains and makes you think!

The story of Sutter Keely (Miles Teller), a hedonistic and charming high school senior who prides himself on living in the now, was well developed and engaging. With poor grades and no plans for the future, our hero spends much of his time drinking and attending parties. His girlfriend, Cassidy, is unable to cope with his budding alcoholism or lack of ambition, and dumps him. After drinking to numb his pain, Sutter is woken up on a stranger's lawn by Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley), a nice girl who reads science fiction and manga during her free time. Sutter helps her with her paper route, and ultimately invites her to have lunch with him...

I was one of the guys who really hated the last year in the high school (and I loved the University later) and I am glad that The Spectacular Now will brought me back to that time in my life when everyone was telling me that there's nothing better than that year. I am glad that they were wrong, because I really enjoyed the life after that year so much more. After watching so many teenager movies they all seem to look alike, but this one was different - it felt authentic and soulful. The chemistry between Miles Teller as Sutter Keely and Shailene Woodley as Aimee Finecky felt real and I was pleasantly surprised how good these young actors are. I guess we could say that this time director Ponsoldt made a movie which goes "back to reality". Job well done!