Since starting my blog, I have realised that I get through a lot of books and films that I really want to talk about or share. I've decided that every Sunday I'm going to post a mini-review (I say mini because I don't class myself as a film or book expert at all!), instead of having the posts sit in drafts because I never get round to posting them!
The Spectacular Now first appeared on my radar when it was featured on a list of books that were being adapted for the big screen; I diligently worked my way through the list and when I finished the book, I knew I just had to see the film. It took a while but I finally sat down and watched it last week.
The story centres around Sutter (Miles Teller), a high school student who is unknowingly dealing with his own issues when he meets a "nice" girl, charmingly portrayed by Shailene Woodley. Their meeting changes both lives. We see live-in-the-moment Sutter change his philosophy on life, from a party loving high school student to a sad teenager, who is disappointed by his father that he doted upon.
The interaction between Teller and Woodley is so natural and true that you forget it's actually a movie at times. Teller is charasmatic, charming, painfully sad and damaged, a likeable character whose flaws highlight the problems and issues of an insecure and hurt teenager. Woodley is the perfect, intelligent girl-next-door who is swept away in love with one of the popular boys. We see the damaging effect of Sutter stumbling drunk from one party to his job, simultaneously proving to be a bad influence on Aimee as well boosting her confidence.
The Spectacular Now is a coming of age film, in a similar vein to The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. We follow our protagonists ignoring their problems, facing up to the them, and dealing (or not dealing) with the consequences of their realisations. On the surface, The Spectacular Now is an uplifting, pleasant film but when you delve deeper, you unravel a complex, heart warming but heart wrenching storyline that makes you question if stuff really does turn out alright in the end. The emotion and honesty is refreshing for a film aimed at teenagers; the themes of loneliness, insecurity, and simply growing up are not sugarcoated. Sometimes life is tough, we don't always find the answers we want and sometimes we make mistakes and unknowingly hurt or damage other people.
If you like films with witty dialogue, a great cast, and storyline that deserves to be reflected upon after the movie has ended, give The Spectacular Now a go. The book is pretty awesome too!
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