Today I saw the movie “The Spectacular Now,” and though it is billed as a comedy, it is actually more serious than that label would suggest. It is a coming-of-age film about a boy who is moving quickly from high school “party boy” to teen alcoholic, and whose life changes over a few short months when he loses his popular girlfriend and gets to know a girl in his class who is someone he has never once noticed. He is challenged in that relationship to be more authentic and to take the risk to go in search of his father, who has been out of his life for years. I will not spoil the movie by telling what happens, but I can say that it is a social commentary on the pain that comes from losing a parent, the redemptive power of love, and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s life choices.
This story has some very tender moments and some painful ones, all of which feel authentic and real. It is not a film to go to if you’re looking for comic relief. It is a movie to see if you’d like to watch two young people struggle to help each other break out of destructive family patterns and take charge of their own destinies.
The story is relevant, the acting is excellent, and the resolution is not pat. I think this film is definitely worth seeing.
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