Young Adult (2011)

Young Adult Poster

A divorced writer from the Midwest returns to her hometown to reconnect with an old flame, who's now married with a family.

Movie Summary

Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, "Young Adult" is a 2011 American comedy-drama movie starring Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, and Patrick Wilson. Charlize Theron provides a compelling efficiency as Mavis Gary, a writer of teen literature who goes back to her little home town to reclaim her happily married high school sweetie.

Plot
Mavis Gary is a fascinating, beautiful, yet intricate character. She is portrayed as a psychologically unstable, divorced, ghostwriter who is struggling with her profession and her love life. The story unfolds as Mavis receives an e-mail with pictures of Buddy Slade's (Patrick Wilson) newborn, her high school sweetheart. This prompts Mavis, desperately clutching onto her past, to leave Minneapolis and return to her charming home town Mercury, Minnesota with the objective to revive her relationship with Buddy.

Mavis's Attempts and Disappointment
Her attempts at winning Buddy back are both awkward and unpleasant, resulting in several cringe-inducing encounters. In spite of everybody else seeing Buddy as happily wed to Beth (Elizabeth Reaser), a pleasant, domestic mother of his newborn baby, Mavis declines to perceive truth and steadfastly believes that he requires to be 'rescued' from his ordinary life.

Matt Freehauf's Role
While in town, Mavis frequently crosses paths with Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt). Matt, who was relatively unnoticeable to Mavis throughout high school, becomes a considerable part of her strategy, working as her conscience and truth check. Matt, like Mavis, is handling his own past injury originating from a high school encounter that left him physically maimed. The 2 share a weird bond, understanding each other's disappointments and the struggles of conquering their past.

Climax and Resolution
The climax of the movie comes during a party tossed by Buddy and his spouse, an occasion that Mavis arrogantly crashes, under the belief that Buddy wishes to entrust to her. The damaging conflict at the party helps Mavis understand-- however briefly-- that her actions have actually been inappropriate and delusional, leading her to return to Minneapolis. Here, Mavis starts the procedure of discovering closure with her past and accepting her life as it is.

Conclusion
"Young Adult" is a bleak however eventually poignant exploration of a specific unwilling to let go of her teenage identity and face the truths of adulthood. The movie uses dark humor to depict the delicate topic of psychological health battles and draws audiences in with its raw, unfiltered portrayal of an anti-hero lead character in Mavis. It highlights that acceptance of the past, however challenging, is essential for individual growth and moving on in life.

Top Cast

  • Charlize Theron (small)
    Charlize Theron
    Mavis Gary
  • Patton Oswalt (small)
    Patton Oswalt
    Matt Freehauf
  • Patrick Wilson (small)
    Patrick Wilson
    Buddy Slade
  • Elizabeth Reaser (small)
    Elizabeth Reaser
    Beth Slade
  • Collette Wolfe (small)
    Collette Wolfe
    Sandra Freehauf
  • Jill Eikenberry (small)
    Jill Eikenberry
    Hedda Gary
  • Richard Bekins (small)
    Richard Bekins
    David Gary
  • Mary Beth Hurt (small)
    Mary Beth Hurt
    Jan
  • Kate Nowlin (small)
    Kate Nowlin
    Mary Ellen Trantowski
  • Jenny Dare Paulin (small)
    Jenny Dare Paulin
    Nipple Confusion Bassist
  • Rebecca Hart
    Nipple Confusion Guitarist