Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/Adventureland

‘Adventureland’ With Bill Simmons and Juliet Litman

March 21, 2023 · Adventureland (2009) · Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1:15:38 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 41:00Slow 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
Juliet Litman▶ 42:52Skewering 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

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 45:04The corn dog scenes, particularly Martin Starr eating a phallic corn dog during the Crowded House fireworks scene

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 45:26Em's house

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 46:22Multiple weak elements: Catholic vs Jewish storyline felt outdated for 1987, Ryan Reynolds character needed more wisdom/charm, too much Lou Reed, 'ages the worst' references, Jack Black ripoff character
Juliet Litman▶ 46:03The Catholic girl character - thought it was funny but unnecessary, didn't add to the movie

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 50:02No, definitely not

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 50:06Quit worrying Brennan, that's what the weed is for

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 50:19Wanted more from Greg Mottola (as director) - he should have made more movies given his talent and hit rate
Juliet Litman▶ 52:31Ryan Reynolds should really only play losers - this is probably her favorite Ryan Reynolds role and he's more fun to root against

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:01Bill 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'
Juliet Litman▶ 1:00:35Kristen 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

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:11Agrees with Giant Ass Panda and Apex Mountain, supports Adventureland saying 'Here comes Adventureland'
Juliet Litman▶ 1:02:39Multiple options: 'some of perspective' (basketball reference), Giant Ass Panda, 'plain looking lonely depressive', and Adventureland

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:13The 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
Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:09Not 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
Juliet Litman▶ 1:05:01The character telling strangers about his family's money problems seems weird for someone who's supposed to be hyper self-aware, not a moron
Juliet Litman▶ 1:05:17Are 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

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:53Two 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
Juliet Litman▶ 1:06:23Coming of age story for a young black man after he graduates and doesn't have the money he thinks he's going to have

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:43Kathryn Hahn — Catherine Han as the stepmother
Juliet Litman▶ 1:06:50Steve Buscemi — Steve Buscemi working at Adventureland as a weird guy

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:45Questions 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)
Juliet Litman▶ 1:08:22How 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

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:34Dazed and Confused — Initially suggested Wet Hot American Summer or 'the way way back' movie, then agreed with Juliet's Dazed and Confused pairing
Juliet Litman▶ 1:09:47Dazed and Confused — Dazed and Confused paired with Adventureland - watch Dazed and Confused first (70s) then Adventureland (80s)

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:31Beware 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
Juliet Litman▶ 1:11:51Never 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

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:14Kristen Stewart — Kristen Stewart - agrees with Juliet's pick
Juliet Litman▶ 1:12:04Kristen Stewart — Kristen Stewart - calls it her favorite Kristen Stewart performance, saying she plays it perfectly in a believable way

Movies Referenced (27)

Twilight (2008)

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman▶ 13:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Superbad (2007)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman▶ 2:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Amadeus (1984)

4 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons▶ 38:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dazed and Confused (1993)

3 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 1:09:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul (2011)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 51:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Proposal (2009)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman▶ 21:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clear History (2013)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 51:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 25:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Panic Room (2002)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Social Network (2010)

2 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 11:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Way Way Back (2013)

2 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons▶ 44:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Annie Hall (1977)

1 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 13:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (4)

Greg Mottola

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Adventureland, Superbad▶ 3:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Allen

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Annie Hall, Manhattan, Deconstructing Harry▶ 12:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matthew Vaughn

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, Stardust▶ 16:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Leslie Libman

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (41)

Ryan Reynolds

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Deadpool 2, Deadpool, Deadpool & Wolverine▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jesse Eisenberg

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for A Real Pain, The Social Network, The Squid and the Whale▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kristen Stewart

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Snow White and the Huntsman, Twilight▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Starr

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Adventureland, Spider-Man: Homecoming, This Is the End▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Hader

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for The Skeleton Twins, Inside Out▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kristen Wiig

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Bridesmaids, The Skeleton Twins▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Pattinson

5 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons · Known for Twilight, The Batman, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse▶ 15:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jonah Hill

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Wolf of Wall Street▶ 10:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Amadeus

3 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons▶ 38:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lou Reed

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for V for Vendetta, RocknRolla, Blue in the Face▶ 36:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Margarita Levieva

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for The Lincoln Lawyer, Adventureland▶ 39:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Cera

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Juno, Superbad, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World▶ 10:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (2)

Judd Apatow

2 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons · Known for The King of Staten Island, Knocked Up▶ 4:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman▶ 23:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Michael Grantland

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for The Taking of Pelham 123, The Other Guys▶ 16:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Moron

1 mentions · Juliet Litman · Known for Unknown▶ 1:05:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗