Adult World

There are always films that seem to define the youth of the decade. In the 1980s, you can make an argument for any of the "rat pack" movies but I remain the closest to John Hughes' The Breakfast Club (1985). In the 1990s, the hilarious and raunchy American Pie (1999) that bookended a great decade of dramatic and comedic cinema. Scott Coffey's newest endeavor Adult World starring the talented and adorable Emma Roberts is a touching and uproariously entertaining comedy about a recent college graduate Amy that believes she's destined to be the next great poet. When things don't go in her favor, Amy gets a job at an adult book store called "Adult World."

Written by Andy Cochran, who has written episodes for MTV's "Teen Wolf" and "Super Sweet 16: The Movie," the first-time movie screenwriter assembles an assortment of creative and unique characters with genuine deeds that feel credible and realistic. Director Coffey does a commendable job transporting the audience through the story , inserting varieties of colors, beats, and instances of emotional connection. It's one of the best films seen at the Tribeca Film Festival and could one of the crowd-pleasing films of the year upon release.

Emma Roberts, best known for her whimsical turns in films like Nancy Drew (2007) and Scream 4 (2011), charms the pants off the audience in her role of Amy. Roberts is head-over-heels hilarious and manages to capture the hearts of all. It's an interesting conundrum that Roberts creates for the viewer, as her piercing voice that should make you pull your hair out, manages to be her supernatural fairy dust that magnetizes our cinematic senses to her cutesy persona. It's a performance that will define her as a capable leading lady with a possible Golden Globe mention to prove the theory down the road in awards season. Roberts is completely lovable.

Roberts cannot take all the credit as the terrific cast that surrounds her are just as remarkable. As the awkward and misanthropic poet Rat Billings, John Cusack delivers one of his better works as of late. Playing extremely well off of Roberts, Cusack's character choices and mannerisms are simply comic genius. Taking a break from the creepy, serial killer that we have grown to love about Evan Peters on FX's "American Horror Story," he plays the sensitive and charming Alex with wonderful restrain. Completely stealing the show and delivering my favorite supporting turn of the year so far is Armando Riesco. Best known for his brief roles in Garden State (2004) and Che (2008), as the flamboyant and lovable Rubia, Riesco commands the screen and steals focus from every actor on set. It's a memorable and dedicating turn by an actor that was in need of a big break into the hearts of viewers. I believe he's found it.

Adult World is a must-see comedy. Heartwarming and beautifully tender, the only flaw the film suffers is being a smidge too long. One of the great things that the Tribeca Film Festival offers, Adult World is an absolute delight.

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There is a scene in Scott Coffey's Adult World involving a transgender male and a devout and somewhat psychotic poet riding a bike made for two chasing after an elusive poet who is speeding away in a car so that the psychotic poet can make another attempt at talking to her biggest influence and showing just how weirdly intrusive she can be.

Stating that scene and that scene only to a person would make them think said film is nothing but a desperate little comedy, when in reality, Adult World is another one of those films that is actually wise and thoughtful but dressed up in stupid people's clothes. Seems I'm running into this unfortunate predicament a lot. The problem with this kind of filmmaking tactic, whether it's intentional or unintentional, is that it has the potential of alienating those who need to see the film the most.

The film focuses on a recent college graduate named Amy (Emma Roberts, whom I never tired of seeing). A poetry major who has racked up over $90k in student loans, Amy wishes she could make a living verbalizing whatever comes to her mind and carry on with a relatively safe but fulfilling life. However, reality - and her parents - prohibit this dream from happening, so Amy must get a real job, and with little options, she accepts a job at Adult World, the local provider of vibrators, sex dolls, pornographic movies, sex toys, lube, etc.

Amy is repulsed at first, as she's always kind of sheltered herself from the icky realms of human pleasure and sexual exploration, but she quickly befriends the charming Alex (Evan Peters), who shares some of her interests as well as her circumstances. Amy, however, is desperate in trying to win the attention of Rat Billings (John Cusack), one of her favorite poets who has recently come to town. She pesters Rat, constantly invading his privacy and bugging him, until he offers her a position as his assistant at Syracuse University.

The three main actors rarely misstep in their performances, however, the character of Amy is definitely skating on thin ice in terms of acceptability. Amy, when by herself or with Alex, is fine, but when she's in the company of Rat, she becomes obsessive, hyper, and borderline psychotic. The problem with that is not only is that this side of her is annoying but it lessens her realism as this fanatical behavior is not the kind you'd think she'd be doing. It's almost like she suffers from multiple-personality disorder.

And again, there's a sort of convention to the material, despite the film's characters being relatively unique. Then there's a transgender character that is nothing more than a character to have to muster up some shock amongst audience members. But the thing that sets Adult World apart from other dramas is that it doesn't hesitate to explore the blessing and the curse that is being creative in contemporary America. In a country that is advanced predominately by scientific, mathematical, and technological milestones and achievements, opportunities, let alone viable ones, for liberal arts, poets, English, or writers are scarce. It's almost as if in an increasingly complex world, those who attempt to define it aren't wanted.

It's a sad fact and Adult World pleasantly recognizes it, giving us a likable protagonist who is good at what she does - confident, amiable, and always friendly - but burdened by a lack of opportunities. She has bravely majored in poetry, but is now facing reality in that the only potentially-lucrative job for her is a published author, but good luck getting someone to read your work. And, oh yeah, here's a bill near six-figures for that college education too.

I plan on attending college this fall as an English major with a minor in a business field, perhaps marketing. I'm completely unsure of where those fields will get me and those like me are probably equally unsure. Adult World is a film for those types of people to see - people who know what they want to be, know what they like, and have found a passion at a young age, but are tragically low on opportunities.

Starring: Emma Roberts, John Cusack, and Evan Peters. Directed by: Scott Coffey.

Amy dreams to become a successful poem writer. For this to be accomplished she needs money and someone to guide her. So she looks for a job and finds one at an adult shop. Forced by circumstances she accepts. Her parent doesn't know about this and after a fuss in witch Amy wants to have more liberty and the desire to be free and not be treated as a little girl, runs away from home and goes to live with Rubia, a transsexual that she mets at her new workplace. Destiny makes that she will be in a more warm relationship with her favorite poet that she sees him as a mentor. Rat offers his advice to her but soon finds out that his number one fan may not be 100% sane and decides to dedicate a special book just to her.

In this movie Emma Roberts is very irritating and annoying, we have to assist at her nerve attacks. Of course take part of her role and she is convincing, in fact she is a talented actress but maybe this part is not very suitable with her capacities. The film is watchable still the action takes place in small steps. It's the kind of picture that you can watch 15 minutes and FF another 15 and you will not miss anything. In fact if you view 30 minutes then continue the next day with another 30 and you finish the film in the third day, it may be more bearable.

It's a watchable film but reminds me of a past era where Kevin Smith was making originally naive-like movies.. but were cult and are still considered an indie-original nostalgic concept .. This one feels repetitive and more suited for a Beverly Hills 90210 season ..

Don't go to this movie and expect a grand comedy, the jokes are not piled on to one another with just enough room between them for you to catch your breath.

I had never heard of this movie and just watched it because I love John Cusack, and when I became aware of it's existence I didn't read anything about it before watching (I like to do that, go in to a movie blank in mind, not expecting anything) and I found it to be a sweet movie. It's not the best movie ever, but it is not the worst. It had it's LOL- moments but they were few although not out of place, when I later watched IMDb and saw it was ranked as a comedy and not a drama I was dumbfounded. I would rank it as a comedy/drama at least.

Emma Roberts character felt a little ambiguous at times. And it was weird but actually really refreshing to see John Cusack in the role of the asshole, not a role he often plays without humor attached to it.

It's a movie well worth the watch, if you only keep an open mind to it going in. And I really liked it for what it was, a sweet movie about a girl trying to follow her dreams.