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| Image courtesy of A24 Films. |
We've all probably known a Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) at some point. You know the guy: life of the party, good hearted but aimless, uses charm and humor to waylay discussions of a serious nature.
In director James Ponsoldt’s sophomore feature, “The Spectacular Now,” Sutter finds himself at the sort of crossroads that movies about teens tend to depict, but it does so eloquently and manages to escape the trappings that typically bring movies of this sort down.
In fact, along with last year’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” which is the recent gold standard for this type of film, and 2009’s “Adventureland,” Ponsoldt’s picture is a rare example of a thoughtful portrayal of youth’s trials and tribulations.
At the beginning of the film, Sutter’s well-meaning intention of hooking a pal up with a girl is misinterpreted and he gets dumped by his long-time girlfriend.
Sutter, who drinks entirely too much for his own good, wakes up on the lawn of fellow high schooler Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley), a kind hearted soul who loves to read science fiction stories and debates whether she should go to college because it would prevent her from helping her mother – mostly a non-presence – with her paper route.
The scene is a good example of what Roger Ebert frequently called a “meet cute,” but the story that follows takes turns that are romantic, funny, sad and hopeful.
Aimee is a good student who excels at math and her tutelage of Sutter soon leads to a relationship, of sorts.
He makes her promise to tell her mother that she plans to go to college with or without her support, while she convinces him to force his mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to divulge the whereabouts of his father, who has not been seen or heard from in years.
The performances by both leads are strong – Woodley elicits our sympathy during a particularly memorable scene in which she has dinner with Sutter and his sister, while Teller’s likability is reminiscent of John Cusack in “Say Anything,” but slightly boozier and less focused on his future.
The supporting actors are also convincing, including Leigh, Kyle Chandler as Sutter’s father and Andre Royo (whom you may likely remember as Bubbles from “The Wire”) as a teacher.
This is Ponsoldt’s second film that deals with alcoholism. His previous feature, “Smashed,” followed the story of a young woman who attempted to break away from the lifestyle in which she and her husband had become trapped.
In “The Spectacular Now,” Sutter’s drinking is almost second nature. The film is a portrait of a likable, but directionless, character who comes to see the dead ends awaiting him if he continues down the road on which he travels.
This is a picture that handles the triumphs and heartbreaks of young adults with an honesty that is rare in American movies.
At the beginning of the film, Sutter’s well-meaning intention of hooking a pal up with a girl is misinterpreted and he gets dumped by his long-time girlfriend.
Sutter, who drinks entirely too much for his own good, wakes up on the lawn of fellow high schooler Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley), a kind hearted soul who loves to read science fiction stories and debates whether she should go to college because it would prevent her from helping her mother – mostly a non-presence – with her paper route.
The scene is a good example of what Roger Ebert frequently called a “meet cute,” but the story that follows takes turns that are romantic, funny, sad and hopeful.
Aimee is a good student who excels at math and her tutelage of Sutter soon leads to a relationship, of sorts.
He makes her promise to tell her mother that she plans to go to college with or without her support, while she convinces him to force his mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to divulge the whereabouts of his father, who has not been seen or heard from in years.
The performances by both leads are strong – Woodley elicits our sympathy during a particularly memorable scene in which she has dinner with Sutter and his sister, while Teller’s likability is reminiscent of John Cusack in “Say Anything,” but slightly boozier and less focused on his future.
The supporting actors are also convincing, including Leigh, Kyle Chandler as Sutter’s father and Andre Royo (whom you may likely remember as Bubbles from “The Wire”) as a teacher.
This is Ponsoldt’s second film that deals with alcoholism. His previous feature, “Smashed,” followed the story of a young woman who attempted to break away from the lifestyle in which she and her husband had become trapped.
In “The Spectacular Now,” Sutter’s drinking is almost second nature. The film is a portrait of a likable, but directionless, character who comes to see the dead ends awaiting him if he continues down the road on which he travels.
This is a picture that handles the triumphs and heartbreaks of young adults with an honesty that is rare in American movies.
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