The Spectacular Now - Not Spectacular, but Solid

Does anyone else feel like this summer has been dominated by the coming-of-age genre? Seriously, people complain about the superheroes taking over, but I'm pretty sure we've had just as many coming-of-age tales as comic book flicks in 2013. First you've got Mud, which is easily one of the best films of the year; there's also The Way Way Back, which isn't quite as amazing, but still heartwarming and showcases a knockout performance from Sam Rockwell. You've also got The Kings of Summer, which I still haven't seen, but hear good things about. I should probably get on that.

Finally, we have The Spectacular Now, the latest release in this overflowing category. I'm a fan of the genre though, so I'm not complaining. At its best, these kinds of stories remind us of the bittersweetness of being young and uncertain. At its worst, the genre is middling, hazy, nostalgia-fueled reminiscing that can be both obnoxious and sappy - A deadly combination. The Spectacular Now falls firmly in the middle of these two extremes, leaning more towards the good side. It's neither a revelation as some reviews might lead you to believe, nor is it a schlock-filled failure. Not even close. It's touching and heartbreaking - a tale of romance and the effect it can have on young people finding their way through the treacherous, winding roads of life. It also throws in an examination of alcoholism for good measure, which causes the story to lose focus, dimming its overall effectiveness. But even with this sudden turn, The Spectacular Now is largely successful thanks to its honest look at teenage love and the superb performances of its two main leads.

The story follows Sutter Keely (Miles Teller), a high school senior who's as charismatic as he is self-obsessed. He and his girlfriend Cassidy (Brie Larson) are super popular and dominate every social gathering they attend. Things take a turn for the worse when Cassidy dumps him after an unfortunate misunderstanding. He presumes they'll get back together like they always do, but this time she's firm in her resolve and ends up dating someone else. After discovering this, Sutter proceeds to get drunk and pass out on someone's lawn. This random lawn belongs to one of his classmates Aimme Finnecky (Shailene Woodley), an adorable girl-next-door type who loves reading sci-fi and manga who hasn't had a boyfriend in all her life. Sutter takes to her immediately and the two strike up a friendship that eventually leads to romance. Of course, things grow more and more complicated as graduation looms on the horizon and Sutter shows no signs of pursuing anything remotely resembling a future outside of his hometown. He also manages to sneak conversations with his ex into his daily routine, not-so-subtly attempting to win her back. He tries to brush off his relationship with Aimme as a passing thing (His friend keeps labeling it as a rebound which, initially, seems to be the case), but as their relationship continues to grow and Aimee's affection for Sutter deepens, things become more complicated.

For much of its running time, The Spectacular Now is pretty darn spectacular. James Ponsoldt's direction is on point and unobtrusive. The screenplay, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber of 500 Days of Summer fame, is earnest, funny and totally genuine. These two guys are becoming quite a force to be reckoned with in the writing world. (Not too shabby for a pair that broke into Hollywood by penning the screenplay for The Pink Panther 2 starring Steve Martin) Of course, the natural dialogue would be nothing if the two leads weren't capable of delivering strong performances, but, thankfully, both Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley are revelations. The supporting cast, featuring the likes of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, and Brie Larson, is also strong, but this is the Teller/Woodley show and they are easily two of the finest young actors I've ever seen.

Teller has the more difficult challenge of making a slightly unlikable protagonist on the verge of flat-out alcoholism charming and relatable. His performance is a success in every way, reminiscent of a young John Cusack. It's not too hard to understand why everyone would find Sutter to be such an awesome guy. Woodley brings her a-game as sweetheart Aimme and it's heartwrenching to watch her fall for someone like Sutter, knowing full well what kind of guy he is. Their chemistry is natural and flawless. It's so refreshing to see two such well-drawn characters played so well by two talented actors in a genre so often plagued with insincerity. The development of Sutter and Aimme's friendship and eventual romance feels real and it's so fascinating to watch that when the plot suddenly takes a jarring sharp turn into contrived melodrama focusing on Sutter's alcoholism, it very nearly derails the whole experience. Thankfully, the performances, dialogue and direction are strong enough to keep things on track even as The Spectacular Now stumbles across the finish line.

CONCLUSION: The Spectacular Now may not be the rousing success I was hoping for, but it's a strong effort from Ponsoldt and gets by on some excellent writing and wonderful performances from Teller and Woodley. If the plot had kept its focus on their relationship, it would have been a strong effort. As is, it's still worth seeing and one of the better coming-of-age tales to be released this year.

FINAL RATING: 3.5/5