Movie Review - "Young Adult"

In the 2011 film "Young Adult", Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gray, recently divorced and the writer of a soon to be canceled fictional book series for young teenage girls. Once the "popular girl" from her high school in a small  town in Minnesota, Mavis returns home in hopes she can rekindle the love with her old flame Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). The fact that Buddy is happily married and he and his wife are now parents to a new born baby girl isn't enough to keep Mavis from getting the man she feels she deserves.

Upon her arrival home, she forms a unique and unlikely connection with another former classmate, the far less desirable Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt). Matt once the exact opposite of Mavis and her friends in high school, being so bullied that he was physically beaten by some of his classmates to the point were he is forever crippled. When Matt hears of Mavis' derranged intentions to try and break up Buddy's marriage, he tries to do whatever he can to prevent it.

"Young Adult" was an enjoyable film and one that will offer a few laughs and Mavis' character will almost certainly put you in mind of someone from your old High School days. Along with the laughs, there comes a few powerful scenes involving a struggle with depression and alcohol and dealing with the ghosts from the past. "Young Adult" was a very good film and Charlize Theron, in my opinion, gives one of her strongest performances to date and Patton Oswalt also gives a great performance. If you're looking for a recent film you might have missed, check out the trailer for "Young Adult" here and be sure to see the full film in the near future.