lisa p.

adventureland [greg mottola; 2009] was dope.  not to get all armond white, but it is way, way better than anything judd apatow has ever done.  for one, it's sincere; "modest but genuine."  as a result, there's a sense of empathy about the characters.  unlike knocked up, et al., it presents issues with a modest sense of gravitas, which makes it instantly more relatable/likeable/worthwhile than apatow's shallow, happily-ever-after take on unplanned pregnancy and human relationships.  you know, we all struggle, and it's usually not that funny.  

to me, the lisa p. subplot was particularly poignant.  caught between the enigmatic, distant em [kristen stewart], and the hot, available lisa p. [above], the protagonist only becomes more confused as the film progresses.  what's a boy to do?  it's one of life's unanswerable questions.  

i found it both crushing and life-affirming.  not to be missed.