YOUNG ADULT

After Juno, Diablo Cody became a bit of a hero for me (and every other aspiring female “creative” with a blog, but still). After seeing Young Adult, Cody is still a hero, but a different kind. Young Adult is a brave film: sometimes LOL-inducing, sometimes touching, sometimes jarring. It follows teen lit ghost writer, Mavis Gary, as she returns to her hometown to convince her high school boyfriend (who is married with a child) get back together with her. Naturally, awkwardness and hilarity ensures as Mavis encounters various characters from her questionable past. Young Adult is not the cute dork indie-fest that Juno was (and nor should it be), instead it a slightly uncomfortable exploration of human ugliness and growing up — not immediately satisfying but well worth your 90 minutes. (LH) ***