adventureland Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Scenes We Love: Adventureland
Filed under: Miramax », Scenes We Love »
Maybe it's a little early to canonize a scene from a movie that came out only a few months ago, but as fall responsibilities quietly encroach on our sweaty summer abandon, it feels right to point out a scene in Adventureland that particularly reminds us of freedom, unexpected fun, and most of all romance. Thankfully, Greg Mottola's film arrived on DVD and Blu-ray this week, so we were not only able to recall it as our favorite moment in a movie filled with many memorable ones, but make sure the details weren't lost in the intervening (three) months between now and its original release.
Fan Rant: When Marketing Leads Audiences Astray
Filed under: Fandom », Movie Marketing »
Two unrelated events got me grumbling about movie marketing this week -- the DVD release of Adventureland, and a screening of Bobcat Goldthwait's new film, World's Greatest Dad. What these two films have in common, aside from being low-ish budget hybrid comedies, is that they've been sold to the public as something other than what they really are. It's not an uncommon marketing tactic by any means, and at some point we've all bought a movie ticket based on an ad, only to discover that we've been misled. But it seems that studios, when faced with the challenge of how to sell films that aren't easily described in two sentences, are increasingly willing to promote movies as something entirely different, just to get butts in seats on opening weekend.
Over at the blog PopMatters, writer Bill Gibron offered an excellent observation of the practice, noting that the theatrical marketing of Adventureland pimped it as a Superbad-style laugh fest, when in fact the movie's a much smaller, less raucous character study/coming-of-age flick. And the marketing backfired at the box office. "Fans coming in expecting more penis-laden laughs were legitimately let down by Adventureland's wistful, warm embrace," Gibron writes. "Instead of scatology, they got sentiment. [Greg] Motolla's motion picture tribute received good reviews but did mediocre business, moneywise."
The Hot, Wet Movie Trend of 2009: Puking
Filed under: Fandom »
As 2009 approaches its halfway mark, it's a good time to reflect on the cinematic themes we've seen represented so far. Given the current economy, it's no surprise that banks and financiers have been villainized in movies such as Drag Me to Hell and The International. Perhaps we're tired of babies, too, as infants have been harmed or endangered for comic effect in Dance Flick and The Hangover. But the most prevalent theme in all of Hollywood this year? Vomit. Chunky, steamy vomit. I don't know if so many movies with puke scenes have ever appeared in one year. And I'm not talking about where a character is seen discreetly from behind, kneeling over a toilet and ralphing, with no barf actually visible. That sort of thing is relatively common. No, I'm talking about scenes where we actually see the vomit as it's spewed from the person's mouth, graphically and in color. That's a lot rarer. Yet so far in 2009 it's happened in Adventureland, The Haunting in Connecticut, Drag Me to Hell, Observe and Report, The Hangover, Year One, and My Sister's Keeper. And wow, the first four of those seven all played at South By Southwest. Fixated much, SXSW programmers??
The causes of the chundering vary from film to film. In My Sister's Keeper and The Haunting in Connecticut, it's cancer-stricken teenagers suffering from nausea. Year One has its heroes afflicted with motion sickness (eating the poop didn't bother them at all), and I believe that's what makes an amusement-park customer hurl in Adventureland, too. Drag Me to Hell has a woman (possibly a hallucination) vomiting maggots on somebody. In the other movies, it's good ol' drunkenness or hungoverness.
Could Studio Rewards Help Fight Movie Piracy?
Filed under: Distribution », Exhibition », Movie Marketing », Miramax »
With no disrespect to the very serious issue of life-threatening, high-seas piracy off the coast of Somalia, movie studios have been dealing with their own version of piracy for many years now. True, no lives have been lost, but the economic costs have mounted into the billions, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, and no viable solution has been put forth to discourage individuals from illegally downloading and sharing movies, nor has any real progress been made to keep people from selling pirated DVDs on the streets and in shops. But what if studios rewarded people for not pirating movies?
According to This Blog Is Not Yet Rated, Twitter user Amanda Music wondered: "Ugh WHY IS ADVENTURELAND NOT ON TORRENTS YET?" The US distributor for Greg Mottola's Adventureland is Miramax Films, and they've been actively seeking out Tweets about the movie, as evidenced in their response to Amanda: "Cmon Amanda, don't do it. #adventureland #fbi." Amanda replied: "Okay I won't, JUST FOR YOU," prompting Miramax to respond: "Thanks Amanda. In return, I have a free Fandango card for 2 tix if you're interested in Adventureland. Just DM us for the code."
Score one for Miramax doing a good thing, but I don't recommend deluging them or any other studio with Tweets suggesting that you'll illegally download movies if you don't get a free ticket. What it points to, though, is that studios need to have greater incentives for people to get up from their computers and go to a theater.
Weekend Box Office: WTF 'FAST & FURIOUS'?!?
Filed under: New Releases », Box Office »
The first weekend take for Fast & Furious, a staggering $72 million, beats the entire domestic gross of its series predecessor, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift by $10 million dollars? It is also far and away the year's best opening, though that will likely change come May. How did this happen? Bringing back Vin Diesel and Paul Walker as part of the "series reboot" helped. The hip new advertising campaign that focused heavily on the car chase action probably succeeded in making the franchise seem less "cheesy" this time around. (The Tokyo Drift subtitle, which turned out to have great traction (ZING!) as a running joke, didn't help the beleaguered third film.) Having seen the movie, that seems a little silly, since it's probably even more hilarious than its predecessors (and never has the description of Vin Diesel as an "angry potato" been more apt). But here we are, and a fifth entry in the series is all but assured.
A sad casualty of the weekend, apart from our collective intelligence, is the lovely Adventureland, which debuted to a disappointing $6 million. I think Miramax was jamming a square peg into a round hole by attempting to market Greg Mottola's film as another Superbad, which it decidedly is not, but I don't really know. It had a great concept but no stars among its lovely cast, so I guess it wasn't the easiest sell.
Monsters vs. Aliens is headed for a not-great $150-160 million finish. I Love You, Man, on the other hand, looks like it'll beat both Jason Segel's Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Paul Rudd's Role Models. Sunshine Cleaning expanded this weekend and snuck into the top 10, with Overture trying hard to platform its way to a sleeper hit. It may have a minor one.
The full top 10 after the jump.
Insert Caption: Adventureland
Filed under: Fandom », Contests », Insert Caption »
Welcome to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that has 'Adventureland' written all over it. Last week we asked you to chime in with a caption for the film I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel as two dudes who spark up a hilarious (and don't forget heartwarming) bromance. Congrats go out to the three readers who reached out and touched our souls with their inspired captions.
1. "From the set of the unfinished franchise reboot: Bill and Ted's Not-Completely-Forgettable Saturday Afternoon." -- Kurt P.
2. "SLAPPIN DA BAAAASSSSSSS!!!!" -- Lauren A.
3. "Dude, we are so ready to take this Guitar Hero act on the road." -- Kathi F.
See full image and all captions
This week we're traveling back to the year 1987 for the new movie Adventureland (in theaters today), from director Greg Mottola (Superbad). While we'd love to get in the spirit of the film and hand out a giant ass panda to the reader who can successfully throw a dented ring over their computer screen from twenty feet away, something tells me that's just a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, we have Kristen Wiig holding a giant banana and these fabulous prizes: one Adventureland signed poster, one Adventureland T-Shirt and one Adventureland soundtrack. So, ladies and gentlemen, step right up and take your best shot ...
Read the official rules for this contest
1. "From the set of the unfinished franchise reboot: Bill and Ted's Not-Completely-Forgettable Saturday Afternoon." -- Kurt P.2. "SLAPPIN DA BAAAASSSSSSS!!!!" -- Lauren A.
3. "Dude, we are so ready to take this Guitar Hero act on the road." -- Kathi F.
See full image and all captions
This week we're traveling back to the year 1987 for the new movie Adventureland (in theaters today), from director Greg Mottola (Superbad). While we'd love to get in the spirit of the film and hand out a giant ass panda to the reader who can successfully throw a dented ring over their computer screen from twenty feet away, something tells me that's just a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, we have Kristen Wiig holding a giant banana and these fabulous prizes: one Adventureland signed poster, one Adventureland T-Shirt and one Adventureland soundtrack. So, ladies and gentlemen, step right up and take your best shot ...
Read the official rules for this contest
Review: Adventureland
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Theatrical Reviews », Miramax »
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By Erik Davis (original publication date: 1/20/09 -- Sundance Film Festival)
Adventureland is and isn't everything I expected it to be. First off, no matter what the trailer may show you, this is in no way Superbad, circa 1987 -- so get that out of your head now. Adventureland is, instead, a sometimes subtle dramedy that's more touchy-feely than it is funny. With more in common with writer-director Greg Mottola's The Daytrippers, Adventureland is a moody late-eighties time capsule whose parts explode on the screen and shoot out in several different directions before landing, together, in a pile of mixed emotions.
James (Jesse Eisenberg) is an inexperienced brainiac who's looking forward to spending his summer before college traveling through Europe. With the trip planned right down to the last penny, James is informed by his stiff parents that the nine hundred bucks he was supposed to receive as a graduation present won't be arriving in his pockets anytime soon since dad was forced to take a major pay cut at work. So, instead of discovering himself abroad, James is forced to find a summer job to help pay for his expensive Ivy League school in the fall. When his skinny frame and intellectual persona find him rejected from almost every job out there, James reluctantly takes an opening at the Adventureland theme park in the games division.
Box Office: Adventures of the Fast and Furry
Filed under: Action », Comedy », Box Office Predictions »
Dreamworks managed to pull in the biggest opening weekend of the year with their animated science fiction comedy Monsters vs. Aliens. Hardcore horror fans may not care for PG-13 rated scare flicks, but based on The Haunting in Connecticut's respectable second place showing, the general public doesn't seem to mind. 12 Rounds, the action flick starring wrestler turned actor John Cena, came in seventh with $5.3 million. Here's the top five:
1. Monsters Vs. Aliens: $59.3 million
2. The Haunting in Connecticut: $23 million
3. Knowing: $14.7 million
4. I Love You, Man: $12.6 million
5. Duplicity: $7.7 million
Two new releases this week pitting laughs against thrills:
Adventureland
What's It All About: An uptight college graduate learns that his parents have decided not to pay for his trip to Europe after all, and so he must take a summer job in a run down amusement park.
Why It Might Do Well: If the 90% fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com isn't enough, director Greg Mottola was also behind Superbad, which had a $33 million opening weekend and $121 million domestic total.
Why It Might Not Do Well: For the sheer number of screens, Fast and Furious has a distinct advantage.
Number of Theaters: 1,800
Prediction: $12 million
Fast and Furious
What's It All About: Once again Vin Diesel is getting quick and cranky as he returns to the franchise he helped launch with 2001's The Fast and the Furious.
Why It Might Do Well: The original film had a $40 million opening weekend and $144 million domestic gross.
Why It Might Not Do Well: As of this writing Rottentomatoes.com is listing only nine reviews, but they combine to give this film 0%. Yikes!
Number of Theaters: 3,400
Prediction: $44 million
1. Monsters Vs. Aliens: $59.3 million
2. The Haunting in Connecticut: $23 million
3. Knowing: $14.7 million
4. I Love You, Man: $12.6 million
5. Duplicity: $7.7 million
Two new releases this week pitting laughs against thrills:
AdventurelandWhat's It All About: An uptight college graduate learns that his parents have decided not to pay for his trip to Europe after all, and so he must take a summer job in a run down amusement park.
Why It Might Do Well: If the 90% fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com isn't enough, director Greg Mottola was also behind Superbad, which had a $33 million opening weekend and $121 million domestic total.
Why It Might Not Do Well: For the sheer number of screens, Fast and Furious has a distinct advantage.
Number of Theaters: 1,800
Prediction: $12 million
Fast and FuriousWhat's It All About: Once again Vin Diesel is getting quick and cranky as he returns to the franchise he helped launch with 2001's The Fast and the Furious.
Why It Might Do Well: The original film had a $40 million opening weekend and $144 million domestic gross.
Why It Might Not Do Well: As of this writing Rottentomatoes.com is listing only nine reviews, but they combine to give this film 0%. Yikes!
Number of Theaters: 3,400
Prediction: $44 million
Cinematical Seven: Ways That 'Adventureland' is Not Like 'Superbad'
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », SXSW », Sundance », Movie Marketing », Cinematical Seven », Miramax »
The first poster for Adventureland gives "from the director of Superbad" the lowest, smallest billing. The most recent poster puts it first and foremost, even making it more colorful than the title and, one could argue, the cast itself.
In the weeks leading up to its release this Friday, the marketing campaign for Adventureland has been slowly, steadily, understandably tweaking itself to play up director Greg Mottola's last hit teen comedy, Superbad, but ever since seeing the film, I've been convinced that those expecting something so raucous this weekend will soon find themselves shifting in their seats as they watch something that's a bit more concerned about the 'age' in 'coming-of-age' than the 'coming.' It's not a tremendously misleading sell, but rather a matter of tone, and as such, here's seven reasons why you should look forward to the film beyond thinking it's the Next Big Quotable Comedy.
Whaddya Think: 'Adventureland' Red Band Trailer
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
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Back when I saw Adventureland at Sundance, I tried to make it known that this flick wasn't Superbad, despite the fact that it's directed by the same dude (Greg Mottola) and that the studio insists on selling it as "the next Superbad". That said, I definitely do like this new red band trailer, which pokes fun at the whole red band trend by pointing out the reasons why we like to watch these foul-mouthed, R-rated promos in the first place.
And if you watch this new trailer for Adventureland, you'll get the sense that it's a straight-up comedy with silly characters and stupid one-liners. It's not that, really -- in fact, in my opinion Adventureland is more of a coming-of-age drama than it is the teen sex comedy this trailer makes it out to be. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't see it; I very much liked a good portion of Adventureland for its honesty, its subtle humor, its performances and its totally awesome 80s references (and soundtrack).
So what am I trying to say here? I guess I just don't want you all to expect one thing, because you're receiving something else. If you go in looking for Superbad, you'll be disappointed. If you go in looking for a good time ... well, I think you'll have a pretty good time. Adventureland hits theaters on March 27.
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