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Young Adult

  • 20112011
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,461
337
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Charlize Theron in Young Adult (2011)
A fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now married with kids.
Play trailer2:00
11 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daught... Read allSoon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.

IMDb RATING
6.3/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,461
337
  • Director
    • Jason Reitman
  • Writer
    • Diablo Cody
  • Stars
    • Charlize Theron
    • Patrick Wilson
    • Patton Oswalt
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jason Reitman
  • Writer
    • Diablo Cody
  • Stars
    • Charlize Theron
    • Patrick Wilson
    • Patton Oswalt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 264User reviews
    • 339Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 33 nominations

    Videos11

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:00
    No. 1
    "Bookstore"
    Clip 1:16
    "Bookstore"
    "Looking for a Dress"
    Clip 0:53
    "Looking for a Dress"
    "Adorable"
    Clip 0:50
    "Adorable"
    "Wedding Photo"
    Clip 1:03
    "Wedding Photo"
    "Reunion"
    Clip 0:31
    "Reunion"
    "Macy's"
    Clip 0:30
    "Macy's"
    "Is That a Dog in Your Bag?"
    Clip 0:30
    "Is That a Dog in Your Bag?"
    The Rise of Charlize Theron
    Clip 4:34
    The Rise of Charlize Theron
    Patton Oswalt Goes Back to High School
    Video 2:46
    Patton Oswalt Goes Back to High School
    The Watchlist With Ellen Page
    Video 1:43
    The Watchlist With Ellen Page

    Photos131

    Charlize Theron in Young Adult (2011)
    Jenny Dare Paulin in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt in Young Adult (2011)
    Patrick Wilson in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron in Young Adult (2011)
    Patton Oswalt and Collette Wolfe in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt in Young Adult (2011)
    Jason Reitman in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron and Jason Reitman in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron and Elizabeth Reaser in Young Adult (2011)
    Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Reaser, and Patrick Wilson in Young Adult (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlize Theron
    Charlize Theron
    • Mavis Garyas Mavis Gary
    Patrick Wilson
    Patrick Wilson
    • Buddy Sladeas Buddy Slade
    Patton Oswalt
    Patton Oswalt
    • Matt Freehaufas Matt Freehauf
    Elizabeth Reaser
    Elizabeth Reaser
    • Beth Sladeas Beth Slade
    Collette Wolfe
    Collette Wolfe
    • Sandra Freehaufas Sandra Freehauf
    Jill Eikenberry
    Jill Eikenberry
    • Hedda Garyas Hedda Gary
    Richard Bekins
    Richard Bekins
    • David Garyas David Gary
    Mary Beth Hurt
    Mary Beth Hurt
    • Janas Jan
    Kate Nowlin
    Kate Nowlin
    • Mary Ellen Trantowskias Mary Ellen Trantowski
    Jenny Dare Paulin
    Jenny Dare Paulin
    • Nipple Confusion Bassistas Nipple Confusion Bassist
    Rebecca Hart
    Rebecca Hart
    • Nipple Confusion Guitaristas Nipple Confusion Guitarist
    Louisa Krause
    Louisa Krause
    • Front Desk Girlas Front Desk Girl
    Elizabeth Ward Land
    Elizabeth Ward Land
    • Sales Ladyas Sales Lady
    Brian McElhaney
    Brian McElhaney
    • Book Associateas Book Associate
    Hettienne Park
    Hettienne Park
    • Vickias Vicki
    John Forest
    John Forest
    • Wheelchair Mikeas Wheelchair Mike
    Rightor Doyle
    Rightor Doyle
    • Babysitteras Babysitter
    Brady Smith
    Brady Smith
    • Date Manas Date Man
    • Director
      • Jason Reitman
    • Writer
      • Diablo Cody
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Thirty-seven year old Mavis Gary seems incapable of happiness. She has had one failed marriage with no romance in her immediate horizon. She ghosts writes a young adult series of books, which has just been canceled due to low sales. She is in the process of writing the last book, with which she is having a mental block. She lives vicariously through Kendall Strickland, the teenaged female heroine in her books, as like Kendall she believes her high school years were the best years of her life when she was the prom queen. When she receives news that her high school beau, Buddy Slade, and his wife, Beth Slade, have just had their first child, Mavis takes it as a sign that she and Buddy are meant to be together. As such, she devises a false pretense to travel from her Minneapolis home back her her old hometown of Mercury, Minnesota to reclaim Buddy from Beth. As Mavis slyly or not so slyly does whatever she can to hang out with Buddy, even in Beth's company if need be, she also runs into another old high school colleague named Matt Freehauf. She barely remembers Matt until she is reminded that he was the "hate crime" kid i.e. he was beaten almost to death by the school jocks who believed he was gay (which he is not), which has left him among other things needing to walk with a brace. Matt ends up being Mavis' drinking buddy and confidante, Matt, in turn, who tries to be Mavis' voice of reason to get her out of her delusional state about Buddy and get a grip on reclaiming her life as a functioning adult. —Huggo
    • emotional breakdown
    • mental illness
    • high school
    • drinking
    • narcissism
    • 207 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Everyone gets old. Not everyone grows up.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and some sexual content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The word processor file in which Mavis composes her novel throughout the film is titled "pieceofshit.doc".
    • Goofs
      When Charlize Theron is sitting in KFC, the cup says KGC from one angle and then KFC from another. While thought to be a mistake, the cup reads "KGC" because for a short while, Kentucky Fried Chicken tried to rebrand itself as Kentucky Grilled Chicken, offering a healthier option to their original fried chicken. The cup bears the new, short-lived KGC logo.
    • Quotes

      Mavis Gary: Hey, do you know this girl named Beth? She married Buddy Slade from school.

      Sandra Freehauf: Yeah, I know that Beth.

      Mavis Gary: What do you think of her?

      Sandra Freehauf: I don't really like her. I mean, I think you're way prettier than she is. What happened to your dress? I'm sorry, did I say something wrong? Shit. What's wrong? What did I say?

      Mavis Gary: I have a lot of problems.

      Sandra Freehauf: Can't you get a new dress?

      Mavis Gary: It's really difficult for me to be happy. And then for other people it just seems so simple. I know. They just grow up and they're so fulfilled.

      Sandra Freehauf: I don't feel fulfilled. And frankly, if you don't feel fulfilled with all the stuff that you have.

      Mavis Gary: I need to change, Sandra.

      Sandra Freehauf: No you don't.

      Mavis Gary: What?

      Sandra Freehauf: You're the only person in Mercury who could write a book or wear a dress like that.

      Mavis Gary: I'm sure there's plenty of other people who could.

      Sandra Freehauf: Everyone here is fat and dumb.

      Mavis Gary: Don't say that. I mean, you think so?

      Sandra Freehauf: Everyone wishes that they could be like you. You know, living in the big city all famous and beautiful and all that.

      Mavis Gary: I'm not really famous.

      Sandra Freehauf: Well, you know, special or whatever. I mean, some days when I have a slow shift at work I'll sit and think about you living in your cool apartment, going out and stuff. It seems really nice.

      Mavis Gary: Yeah, but most people here seem so happy with so little. It's like they don't even seem to care what happens to them.

      Sandra Freehauf: That's because it doesn't matter what happens to them. They're nothing. Might as well die. Fuck Mercury.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.53 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Epic
      Written by Billy Gould, Roddy Bottum, Mike Bordin, Jim Martin and Mike Patton

      Performed by Mateo Messina

      Published by Big Thrilling Music/Vomit God Music

    User reviews264

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Not quite up to the hype...
    This is one of those films you read about and really look forward to; but, once seen, you realize that, while good, it's not quite worthy of the build up.

    Charlize Theron is quite good and makes the most of the script she has to work with. As always, hers eyes, facial expression and body language all help her bring life to the role.

    Patton Oswalt also does a star turn as a bit of conscience for Charlize's character.

    The story is well told, albeit a bit of a stretch. For someone reaching back to her past for a lost love, Charlize's character is quite believable; it's her long ago beau, Patrick Wilson, that's not quite up to snuff. Given that these two play off each other for a great deal of the film, it would be nicer to have had a better performer opposite her.

    That said, it's worth watching, though probably a bit depressing for many viewers.
    helpful•61
    48
    • ldquinn
    • Dec 21, 2011

    FAQ5

    • Why does Mom keep 37-year-old Mavis's teenage bedroom exactly as she left it? And who dusts?
    • Why does Dad still keep 37-year-old Mavis's old car? And obviously, not only keep it but keep it up, as it's clean and still running and in good working order?
    • Why did Matt call Mavis "Sylvia"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tuổi Mới Lớn
    • Filming locations
      • Denny's - 13450 Rogers Dr, Rogers, Minnesota, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Denver and Delilah Productions
      • Indian Paintbrush
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,311,571
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $310,263
      • Dec 11, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $22,939,027
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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