Review: Young Adult (2011)

In a time where quirky characters and anti-heroes are cherished, Charlize Theron's performance in Young Adult rises to the plate in delivering an endearing unlikeable character. From wanting to swoon a married man with a baby to insulting the crippled at every chance, this film managed to create a story where you actually wanted to root for such a lead.

This is the story of a near-forty woman going back to her home town in hopes of rekindling the romance of a high school romance back in days where she was the most popular girl in school. The theme behind this film is all about the idea of what happens to the queen bee in school that everyone loves to hate. In this case, she's become a ghost writer writing for a dead series who feels her life is anything but fulfilled. 

The draw point in this film is no doubt Charlize Theron's convincing performance as Mavis. She was fantastic in every scene and truly made the character interesting. Mavis is a modern day character who probably wouldn't have existed ten years ago. It's a small town girl who wants more, only to never find happiness. As Mavis herself says, "It's really hard for me to happy". 

Despite the unlikeable qualities in Mavis, I still felt sympathy for her. Near the end of the film, a certain incident is revealed that shows a good deal of what Mavis' motivations were. Yes, my choice of words to describe the premise may have been misleading to my thoughts now, but it's simply not to give everything away. When Mavis' past gets shed in another light, the beginning and all that leads up to it comes together. The story may come across like it's wandering for a bit, but it most definitely proves it has direction by the end. 

Mavis may not be the most likeable, but it's supposed to be understood that she's improved in character since high school. She gives people the light of day and although her desires to have a married man may not be admirable, they're sorta understandable. 

No doubt the glue that holds this film together is the sharp witted script provided by Diablo Cody. After her last piece Jennifer's Body, I'm glad to see she's back on track with a script that delivers both substance, humour, and some deeper messages to think about. 

Much like Diablo Cody's first work with Juno, we have a strong female character who manages to make a few mistakes in life. It's both realistic and something cinema needs to see more of. Ultimately, Young Adult is a modern tale that is highly recommendable with a solid script that provides some laughs and leaves you thinking, as well as a fantastic performance from Charlize Theron.