Young Adult

My Rating: 3 1/2 stars

So, I had completely forgot about this movie until I was flipping through Netflix the other day trying to find something to watch.  I looked it up on IMDB, and realized that it was directed by Jason Reitman, the director of Juno and Up In The Air.  I also found out it was written by Diablo Cody, which made me equally as interested.  So I watched the movie and thought it was very well done, obviously because of the writing, but the casting for this movie also made me feel like these characters were made for these actors.  This underrated film did some success in the acting department though, especially with Patton Oswalt's role.  Here is how I might have done it a little differently though.

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The first character to cast would be Mavis Gary.  Mavis is a successful young adult author for a popular series that has gained her some success and minor fame.  The best way to describe Mavis would actually be through a line in the movie..."psychotic prom queen bitch."  At least, that's who she was in high school, but it has carried on into her adult years, but now she has problems with being an alcoholic and is very insecure about who she is.  She plans to go back home to rekindle the flame with her old high school boyfriend, who is now married and has a newborn daughter.  The role of Mavis is played by Charlize Theron, who does a fantastic job.  I have chosen to go with Elizabeth Banks.  Banks has gained much popularity recently, but has also proven to be an actress to watch out for especially in movies such as Our Idiot Brother and People Like Us. 

  

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Next to cast would be for the role of Matt Freehauf, who is someone that Mavis went to high school with as well.  He was described as a nerd in high school, but was also a victim of a hate crime which left him crippled in one leg.  Freehauf is still optimistic about his future, but is still haunted by his past.  While him and Mavis were not friends in high school, they form a bond when she returns, and he advises Mavis not to try and take back her ex-boyfriend.  The role is played by Patton Oswalt, and I believe that he should have gotten much more recognition for this role, because he was absolutely great.  For my cast I have decided to go with Charlie Day.  I have watched Day in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a long time, and he would definitely be able to lock down this darkly comedic character. 

    

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The last character to cast would be for the role of Buddy Slade.  Buddy plays the guy next door type of character that probably was the popular jock back in high school, but now holds a respectable middle class job and is more of an average joe type of guy.  He is married and just had a baby as well.  He is a little oblivious to the fact of how much Mavis is trying to get back with him, and remains aloof up until the very end.  You can tell that he feels bad for Mavis, so he is nice to her and hangs out with her, which is a bad idea in the end.  The role of Buddy is played by one of my personal favorites, Patrick Wilson.  I have chosen to go with Josh Lucas.  Lucas would be able to play the hometown/new dad/still young at heart type of character that is portrayed.  

 

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I know that this one is a little shorter than my others, but this cast was really driven mainly by these three characters.  It was a good watch if you are into dark comedies, and I recommend checking it out.  Hope you enjoyed by picks for Young Adult.