Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82% (Critics) / 59% (Audience)
Directed By: Jason Reitman
Written By: Diablo Cody
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson and Patton Oswalt
Studio: Paramount Studios

Synopsis: Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter. (Source)

The Good:
Charlize Theron was great as Mavis Gary. She convincingly pulled off playing one of the most selfish, immature, self-destructive, mean-spirited ugly lead characters in recent film history. Patton Oswalt matched her pathetic beat for pathetic beat as Matt Freehauf a former high school classmate of Mavis’ who becomes her confidante and ineffectual conscience during her trip back to her home town.
I was also impressed with Diablo Cody’s writing for YOUNG ADULT. It was not what I was used to and that was a good thing. This script was not overstuffed with hip dialog and constant pop-culture references. Instead the people all spoke like they were real. A little twisted maybe but definitely real. I especially enjoyed the most awful pep talk ever that occurred near the end of the movie between Mavis and Matt’s idol-worshiping sister Sandra (played by Collette Wolfe).

The Bad:
Mavis was a bit too unlikeable. I couldn’t muster up an punch of sympathy for the character at all throughout the entire film. I think I felt more empathy towards Theron’s character in MONSTER than I did in this film and she was a playing a serial killer in that one.

The Ugly:
I would have liked to have seen a goodbye scene between Theron and Oswalt’s characters. I felt like there was unfinished business between the two of them.

Final Verdict: A smartly written and acted pitch black comedy that pulled very little punches. Not likely to be everyone’s cup of tea because of how utterly reprehensible the lead character is but I still recommend it. B