The Spectacular Now

Cast of Characters:

Sutter Keely - Miles Teller

Aimee Finecky - Shailene Woodley

Cassidy - Brie Larson

Sara Keely - Jennifer Jason Leigh

Tommy Keely - Kyle Chandler

Director - James Ponsoldt

Screenplay - Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

Based on the novel The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

Rated R for alcohol use, language and some sexuality - all involving teens

      Miles Teller and Academy Award nominee Shailene Woodley star in The Spectacular Now, from the writers that brought you the 2009 hit (500) Days of Summer.

      Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) lives in the now, for today. Why worry about your future when you can drink and party it up? After all, he is the life of every party; however, he is also a drunk in the making. He never takes his classes seriously and when his girlfriend Cassidy (Brie Larson) realizes that he seems to have no interest in his future, she dumps him.

      Things seem to brighten up for Sutter though the day he meets Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley). After waking him up from his drunken stupor during her newspaper delivery route, they form a friendship. Aimee couldn't possibly be any more different than Sutter. She's the nice girl at school, reads science fiction comics, never has had a boyfriend, and unlike Sutter, seems to have her future completely mapped out.

      Before I continue on, I'm gonna just take back what I've said before about Miles Teller. If you go back all the way to the beginning of April, you'll find my review of 21 & Over, which he was the star of. It was complete crap, a definite contender for top 10 worst of 2013, and I felt he came off as just a poor man's Shia LaBeouf. Miles, you have officially proven me wrong with The Spectacular Now because you, sir, are terrific here. Teller and Woodley are absolutely electric together and it's one of the best pairings chemistry-wise of the year. Woodley, who received her first Oscar nomination in The Descendants, is once again wonderful here in a performance that should merit her another possible Oscar nod. Writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who both wrote (500) Days of Summer prior to this, deliver another strongly written hit. These two really tap into what it is like being a teenager on the verge of exiting high school and embarking on a course that determines the rest of your life, whether it be good or bad. I remember back ten years ago - dear God, it's now ten years - to my senior year and how excited I felt to finally be done with high school, but also terrified at the idea of entering adulthood. This film captures those moments perfectly. Unlike other lesser coming-of-age stories that amount to nothing, the ex-girlfriend isn't the snarky, blonde bitch we love to hate and the parents aren't the bumbling, inept fools or shrill, finger wagging banshees that have absolutely no clue as to what their kids are doing. Actually, if anything, particularly in Sutter's case, the ex-girlfriend and mom are the voice of reason trying to get him to snap out of it. In spite of having no ambition, we still find ourselves caring deeply for Sutter, primarily 'cause we know he can do better - much better - than just drinking and partying all night, and by the time a family matter is revealed to him (not giving anything away), we genuinely feel for him. We care about Aimee as well for the opposite reasons. She's extremely likeable, honest, never seems to have a problem talking about the hardships she grew up with, and is full of ambition. Along with the two leads, there is also some standout supporting work from Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Bob Odenkirk ("Better call Saul!").

      With only a few films under each of their belts, writers Neustadter and Weber and director James Ponsoldt (who previously directed a terrific little film called Smashed, also with Winstead) all have bright careers to look forward to. It's safe to say we'll hear Woodley's name mentioned amongst the Oscar nominees next year and maybe even Neustadter and Weber as well for Best Adapted Screenplay. Can't say the same for Teller. He may get one, but he probably won't. That said, it's still a performance that proved to me he's capable of so much more than just cheap crap like 21 & Over. Despite opening in August, I didn't get a chance to see it until now. Then again, better late than never Celebration Cinema. There's not a moment here I didn't love about this movie, which is one of the best coming-of-age tales I've seen in years. Come on up to the front of the line. I give The Spectacular Now an A+ (★★★★).