“Young Adult” stars the multi-dimensional actress Charlize Theron, who challenges herself yet again in the role of Mavis Gray in the new R-rated dark comedy. The film, directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, opened in limited release on December 9, 2011. Reitman worked with Cody on “Juno” and also impressed audiences with his direction of “Up in The Air” and “Thank You For Smoking.”
The “Young Adult” Returns Home
“Young Adult,” set in a small town in Minnesota and filmed on location in Minneapolis, is a gutsy movie that also stars Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Richard Bekins and Jill Eickenberry.
Charlize Theron plays the role of Mavis Gray, a ghost writer of teen literature who revisits her past. When the former prom queen returns home, she encounters old boyfriends, family, and friends, along with many awkward but funny moments. Fueled by booze, anger and regret, the most amusing moments in the film revolve around Gray’s desperate attempts to try to win back her now married-with-children former boyfriend. When Mavis finds out his situation, she says “I’m cool with it. I got baggage, too.”
Theron continues to show that her real beauty is her skill as an actress. With a raw talent and fierce determination, Theron refuses to be stereotyped. This is another role where she fully immerses herself, delivering a powerful performance.
“The Tale of Peter Rabbit”
“Young Adult” is not the first time a children’s author has been portrayed on film. Renee Zellweger played Beatrix Potter in the 2006 film “Miss Potter.” Beatrix was the writer and illustrator of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” better known to the public as simply “Peter Rabbit.”
The movie can be compared to “Young Adult” in that both leads are authors of young-adult literature, in pursuit of career and self. “Miss Potter,” which also stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson, is certainly a noteworthy effort.
In their roles as children’s authors, both Theron and Zellweger beautifully emote feelings of love, loss, pain, heartbreak, and joy, not just verbally but more so with their facial expressions and body language. Theron and Zellweger bring honesty and relatability to their roles as creative, fiercely strong-willed women, and both actors leave one wanting to know more about these fascinating, flawed, and vulnerable characters.
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