Review of Young Adult (2011) by Abdulaziz A — 26 Nov 2013

Another typically thought-provoking piece from writer-director Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Up in the Air), Young Adult is a darkly funny, relatable, but also depressing coming-of-age tale of a middle-aged woman named Mavis (Charlize Theron) who refuses to give up the past. Reitman wisely hands over the writing credits to his Juno collaborator Diablo Cody for this one. Not that he can't write, (in fact, of all his films, I prefer the ones he actually writes) but the film and its central character stand to gain from Cody's biting humor, which forces the audience to laugh at subject matter that by any respectable standards should not be funny. However, the nuances in Cody's dialogue channel that laughter into forceful acceptance, as if the audience must accept the goings-on and secede that the onscreen events are an undeniable part of life, just as Mavis must secede that her past cannot be regained and that she must live with an eye towards the future. Theron gives a kick-ass performance as Mavis, a boozy, loose 37-year-old author of a failing young adult book series who wants to rekindle with an old flame, the dim-witted yet eternally sweet Buddy Slade (effectively played by Patrick Wilson). Arguably, however, the true star of the film is Patton Oswalt, who plays an unexpected mentor and friend to Mavis. He's a fat, middle-aged cripple with a small brain and a big heart, and he and Theron have incredible chemistry together.

All in all, Young Adult is a small, personal film: the kind Reitman and Cody excel in. It's a beautifully crafted character study wit witty dialogue and excellent acting.