They attached Superbad to the promos but I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. I felt that the characters in Adventureland were a lot more intriguing and enjoyable than the brainless dweebs in Superbad. Sure the theme park employees dabbled in recreational drugs and took a few nips from gin bottles but that just helped to make them more relatable. On the other hand, this movie might make you even more paranoid about the youngsters operating those rides at the local carnival.

The story revolves around recent college grad, James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg). When his parents (Jack Gilpin & Wendie Malick) can’t afford to send him on a European vacation James is forced to raise the funds on his own. When every employment opportunity slams the door in James’ face he’ll have to go for the bottom of the barrel and apply for a gig at the local theme park.

At first it seems like a pretty decent gig. Bobby and Paulette (Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig) are the managers of Adventureland. Two salt of the earth folk who are very enthusiastic about their jobs. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic. James begins to make friends quickly. Tommy Frigo (Matt Bush) is a bundle of excitement that loves to greet James with a fist to the balls (and no, not in a pleasurable way). Joel (Martin Starr) is that sane and realistic co-worker who has no delusions that working at Adventureland is a career high. Connell (Ryan Reynolds) is the maintenance guy and resident cool dude on the block. And Lisa P. (Margarita Levieva) is the hot chick that all the boys want to date and engage in other socially responsible activities. Y'know, like prayer meetings.

Things really start rocking when James meets Em (Kirsten Stewart). Em is that kind of person who just exudes cool. Her nonchalant attitude, subdued glamour, and confident streak of independence make her so intensely sexy that James is instantly smitten. His pursuit of Em will unwittingly pop the lid off some freshly brewed hot mess that will make Adventureland more like Soap Opera Village.

Director / Screenwriter Greg Mottola crafts a coming of age story that reminded me of the teen flicks from the 1980s (hhmmm, good times). I kept waiting for Molly Ringwald to do a walk on at the Ring Toss booth. It also helps that the film takes place in 1987. I guess that would make me a senior citizen. I mean, now the 80s are fertile ground for period films? C’mon! I’m not even on Geritol, yet. On the plus side, my fellow old timers will enjoy the rocking soundtrack (because 80s music is timeless and flawless) and the fashion flashbacks (big hair, pastels and stone washed jeans……what the heck were we smoking?). This is less a comedy and more a teen drama with comedic elements. So if you’re expecting to see this so you can roll in the aisles I can’t guarantee that. But you will chuckle more than once.

Some might also be turned off by the excessive drug use and alcohol use. Well, the kids in the film are college age so except for Tommy Frigo the majority of the youngsters are at least over 20. Hope that calms down some of the Zero Tolerance folks out there.

I was turned off by the plot’s descent into old routines. There’s going to be a point where Character A catches Character B in a compromising position. Before Character B can explain the truth Character A makes a swift judgment and proceeds to do something boneheaded. If that scenario were a dead horse there wouldn’t even be enough of the corpse left to satisfy a maggot. What a bummer that a story with such a refreshing premise and an impressive roster of crisp characters slips down into that smoggy “Valley of Predictaville”.

Jesse Eisenberg is okay but he’s practically the straightman so there's not much to gab about. He’s the guy who thinks everyone else is crazy but finds himself in some pretty humbling moments and loosens up by the end credits. My fave performers were Kristen Stewart and Ryan Reynolds. I just really like Kristin Stewart. Just like in Twilight and Panic Room I love the intelligence she brings to her characters. "Em" is just so calming to be around because she's free of most of the false pretences and facades most of us cover ourselves in. Even when “Em” messes up there’s a perfectly logical explanation for it. And Ryan Reynolds was the perfect choice to play “Connell”. He’s just so skilled at playing that cocky, badder than thou kinda guy that makes him a shoe-in for Hawkeye or Deadpool or any other suave looking yet butt headed comic book character. “Joel” might seem like a bummer with his pitch black colored glasses view of the world but I admired his realism and actually related more to Martin Starr’s character than “James”.

The Scene Stealer award is presented to Margarita Levieva as the gum popping, Lee Press On Nails bearing, theme park diva. She was just fun to watch and I was pleasantly surprised by Mottola’s attempt to make her more than just a bubble headed tease by giving her a sick father to care for. It seems like a tiny detail but it made “Lisa P.” much more three dimensional in my eyes.

Fans of Superbad might be disappointed at the lack of silliness and the reduction in virginity jokes (no offense, Superbad fans). The rest of us will appreciate Greg Mottola’s attempt at a more cerebral look at the wackiness of growing up. But don't worry. Your I.Q. won't have to be that tall to qualify for this ride.