‘Adventureland’ With Bill Simmons and Juliet Litman
March 21, 2023 · Adventureland (2009) · Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1:15:38
Categories
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsSlow motion entrances of hot people, the 'You've Got a Boner' line, mixtapes, the stepmom character and late 80s haircut, Martin Starr's 'worse things have happened to the Jews' line, carnival as movie location, and Rock Me Amadeus needle drop▶ 41:00
Juliet LitmanSkewering of 22-year-olds who went to liberal arts colleges, jokes about Oberlin, Em questioning why he needs journalism school to be a travel writer like Dickens, and Catholic vs Jewish humor▶ 42:52
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsThe corn dog scenes, particularly Martin Starr eating a phallic corn dog during the Crowded House fireworks scene▶ 45:04
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsMultiple weak elements: Catholic vs Jewish storyline felt outdated for 1987, Ryan Reynolds character needed more wisdom/charm, too much Lou Reed, 'ages the worst' references, Jack Black ripoff character▶ 46:22
Juliet LitmanThe Catholic girl character - thought it was funny but unnecessary, didn't add to the movie▶ 46:03
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsWanted more from Greg Mottola (as director) - he should have made more movies given his talent and hit rate▶ 50:19
Juliet LitmanRyan Reynolds should really only play losers - this is probably her favorite Ryan Reynolds role and he's more fun to root against▶ 52:31
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsBill Hader — Yes for Bill Hader (2009 with Superbad success, SNL, and Stefan character), Yes for Greg Mottola (director), Yes for amusement park movies, Yes for Falco and 'Rock Me Amadeus'▶ 1:01:01
Juliet LitmanKristen Stewart — Kristen Stewart's apex was around 2011 with the last Twilight movie, Matthew Vaughn (director) - yes, Ryan Reynolds - no, maintenance men in movies - yes▶ 1:00:35
Racehorse Name Award
Bill SimmonsAgrees with Giant Ass Panda and Apex Mountain, supports Adventureland saying 'Here comes Adventureland'▶ 1:03:11
Juliet LitmanMultiple options: 'some of perspective' (basketball reference), Giant Ass Panda, 'plain looking lonely depressive', and Adventureland▶ 1:02:39
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsThe character couldn't just try to get financial aid or a scholarship for grad school instead of giving up - in 1987 you would figure out a way to pay for it, even if it meant being in debt for 30 years▶ 1:03:13
Bill SimmonsNot enough Pittsburgh sports references - it's a huge sports town with Mario Lemieux, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and the Steelers, but we don't see Ryan Reynolds wearing a Bradshaw jersey or any Pittsburgh sports gear▶ 1:04:09
Juliet LitmanThe character telling strangers about his family's money problems seems weird for someone who's supposed to be hyper self-aware, not a moron▶ 1:05:01
Juliet LitmanAre we supposed to believe M doesn't know she's just one of many girls he brings to his mom's basement? She's not dumb either, so she probably would have figured that out▶ 1:05:17
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsTwo options: sequel with characters seven years later in their late 20s in New York, one successful and one not, directed by Noah Baumbach; or prestige TV season expanding the amusement park world with different character directions▶ 1:05:53
Juliet LitmanComing of age story for a young black man after he graduates and doesn't have the money he thinks he's going to have▶ 1:06:23
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsQuestions about Jay's mixtape song choices (Vienna isn't really a bummer song, should have had more Smiths, The Cure, Joy Division), and Joel's character background (needs more explanation for why his life didn't work out better)▶ 1:07:45
Juliet LitmanHow old is Joel supposed to be and what's his backstory (looks much older than others, needs more family background), and how did Joel's wife find out about the situation since she's not in their friend group▶ 1:08:22
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsDazed and Confused — Initially suggested Wet Hot American Summer or 'the way way back' movie, then agreed with Juliet's Dazed and Confused pairing▶ 1:09:34
Juliet LitmanDazed and Confused — Dazed and Confused paired with Adventureland - watch Dazed and Confused first (70s) then Adventureland (80s)▶ 1:09:47
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsBeware of the cool braggy older guy who really turns out to be more of a cautionary tale - the guy who seems a little like he outkicked his coverage to be working at the amusement park, there's probably a reason he's not cool▶ 1:11:31
Juliet LitmanNever go to the guy you're dating's basement if he doesn't actually live there - if it's going to be a basement make sure it's in his actual home▶ 1:11:51
Who Won the Movie
Juliet LitmanKristen Stewart — Kristen Stewart - calls it her favorite Kristen Stewart performance, saying she plays it perfectly in a believable way▶ 1:12:04
Movies Referenced (39)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twilight (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | ▶ 13:59 |
| Superbad (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | ▶ 2:02 |
| Amadeus (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons | ▶ 38:02 |
| Dazed and Confused (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Juliet Litman | ▶ 1:09:47 |
| The Proposal (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | ▶ 21:08 |
| The Whale (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:10 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:52 |
| Noah (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:05:57 |
| Panic Room (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:55 |
| The Ring (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:02 |
| The Social Network (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Juliet Litman | ▶ 11:42 |
| The Way Way Back (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons | ▶ 44:01 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Mottola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Adventureland, Superbad | ▶ 3:15 |
| Woody Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Annie Hall | ▶ 12:31 |
| Matthew Vaughn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Kick-Ass, Stardust | ▶ 16:21 |
| Leslie Libman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:39 |
Actors Referenced (41)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Reynolds | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Deadpool 2, Deadpool | ▶ 2:34 |
| Jesse Eisenberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | A Real Pain, The Social Network, The Squid and the Whale | ▶ 2:34 |
| Kristen Stewart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Twilight | ▶ 2:34 |
| Martin Starr | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Adventureland, This Is the End | ▶ 2:34 |
| Bill Hader | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Inside Out | ▶ 2:34 |
| Kristen Wiig | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Bridesmaids | ▶ 2:34 |
| Robert Pattinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons | Twilight, The Batman | ▶ 15:51 |
| Jonah Hill | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 10:38 |
| Amadeus | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons | ▶ 38:02 | |
| Lou Reed | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Blue in the Face | ▶ 36:56 |
| Margarita Levieva | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Adventureland | ▶ 39:54 |
| Michael Cera | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | Juno, Superbad | ▶ 10:26 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judd Apatow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons | The King of Staten Island, Knocked Up | ▶ 4:59 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | ▶ 23:27 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman | The Other Guys | ▶ 16:40 |
| Oliver Moron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Juliet Litman | ▶ 1:05:11 |