Adult World

IFC Films | Release Date: February 14, 2014

6.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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LynJan 21, 2015

She's not a mythic heroine, she's not dying of cancer, she's not adorably snarky or preternaturally sexy ... at times she's laughably unlikable. So "Amy" is not your typical girl "coming of age" in a movie. But I liked the hyper angst of herShe's not a mythic heroine, she's not dying of cancer, she's not adorably snarky or preternaturally sexy ... at times she's laughably unlikable. So "Amy" is not your typical girl "coming of age" in a movie. But I liked the hyper angst of her character -- smart, but somewhat handicapped by being in the generation who were told they were Special ever since preschool. With just enough input from the gently cliched supporting characters, we see her acquire a little pain and a little wisdom ... and unless you're heartless, you'll probably find yourself hoping she's gonna be OK.… Expand

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SpangleApr 20, 2017

Having previously (THANK GOD) lived in Syracuse, New York, for about nine years, Adult World is a film I had always wanted to see. Before it came out or even started photography, it was big news that a film starring Emma Roberts and JohnHaving previously (THANK GOD) lived in Syracuse, New York, for about nine years, Adult World is a film I had always wanted to see. Before it came out or even started photography, it was big news that a film starring Emma Roberts and John Cusack would be shooting in Syracuse. Capturing just how much of a hellhole the city is and how it is truly the area of the world that God sees but purposely ignores, Adult World serves as a terrifying reminder of how awful that place is to live. Bleak, gray, rainy, and snowy, this film has it all and shows what a deluge of horrifying weather episodes there are in the town, while also tossing in a guy stealing a car to show just how awful the people are there too. In many ways, Syracuse is like a cult though. The film misses this, but does show Syracuse University. It is the rare relatively big city in America that is like a cult and it worships the school. As such, people are blinded to how **** the place is and report that they, "Love living in Syracuse." Nobody loves living in Syracuse. If somebody says that, I beg you to bring them to the nearest psychiatric hospital. Just mention they live in Syracuse and the doctor will be able to tell quite quickly why they were brought into the hospital. The dazed look in the eyes and repeated statement that, "There is no home court advantage like the Carrier Dome. I love Jim Boeheim. He tells it how it is. Go 'Cuse!", will further establish their insanity. If you read this or watch the film, please remember just how dire the situation is there. The fact that a protester for the Occupy Wall Street movement was in Syracuse and compared the situation to Darfur is no mistake. It is a genocide on life and happiness to live there.

Now, that aside, Adult World is quite plain. Emma Roberts stars a poetry major named Amy who is wide-eyed and bushy tailed as she begins a shocking new job at a porn store and tries to become the protege of poet Rat Billings (John Cusack). At work, her romantic love interest quickly reveals himself to be Alex (Evan Peters) with cute moments between the two set to begin. Yet, the real focus is on Amy and her poetic aspirations. Broke and constantly rejected by literary magazines, Amy presses on and tries to become Rat's protege, only to find out he thinks her work sucks. As with many of these mentor-protege based films, Amy is not very good, but tries very hard and has a dream. Rat is a jerk who is over-the-hill and hates the world. Comedy occasionally ensues as Rat's self-absorbed resentment of himself and others clashes with Amy's naturally energetic demeanor and her innocence about how the world works.

Emma Roberts is a natural for the role of Amy, given her cute and innocent demeanor that is the perfect depiction of the current generation. While the film can get pretty whiny about millennials and the supposed desire of the generation to have fame, it does show the issues. Majoring in poetry, unable to get a job, and clinging to her SAT score as a way to show how smart she is, Amy repeatedly says, "But I am special!" As she learns in this film, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, her insistence and lack of development in this film leaves her as a girl who is far too sheltered from the world to actually become likable in a film. She is just too selfish and flabbergasted that everything she touches is not gold to really become a person we root for to succeed. That said, the film shows quite nicely that she needs to fail. She needs to lose this brim and happy demeanor and replace it with some knowledge that every door will not be open to her. In essence, she needs to try and fail things and not just expect opportunities to rise out of nowhere. She must find her place and figure out what she is supposed to be doing, instead of forcing open a door that keeps saying no. If she wants to be a poet, she cannot respond to criticism by throwing a fit. It is honesty - something she is willing to be with people - and yet she responds quite negatively when told her work is sub-par.

Adult World is a tough one to pin down beyond the generic comedy-drama. It is certainly partially a coming of age film, but it never really has its characters grow in the film. Amy is still whiny and annoying, but bubbly and oddly nice. Perhaps the best way to describe it is as a social critique of the generation via its critique of Amy. Some of these points really hit, especially with the lost 22 year-old trying to find their purpose part of it. As a 22 year-old college graduate trying to find my purpose, a lot of this critique really makes you re-evaluate your life and wonder if you have expected too much from everything. On the other hand, it can often get too preachy and similar to an old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. Adult World tries to pretty it up with some cringe comedy, but as always, cringe comedy is an awful route to go. As such, it has some good critique, but lacks heart and reads like a manifesto… Expand

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JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017

With no ambition other than to entertain, Adult World follows the same style line of two of the last independent works in which Emma Roberts has starred, It's Kind Of A Funny Story and The Art Of Getting By, I liked aspects of the script andWith no ambition other than to entertain, Adult World follows the same style line of two of the last independent works in which Emma Roberts has starred, It's Kind Of A Funny Story and The Art Of Getting By, I liked aspects of the script and especially the role of Cusack, which is perhaps the most remarkable thing of the whole film.
It's not a complete recommendation, but it's not a bad movie either.… Expand

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