Spotlight : Adult World

 

 

DIRECTOR Scott Coffey

 

SCREENWRITER Andy Cochran

 

PRODUCERS Justin Nappi, Kevin Turen, Joy Gorman, Alex Goldstone, Manu Gargi

 

CINEMATOGRAPHER James Laxton

 

WITH Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, John Cusack, Armando Riesco, Cloris Leachman, Shannon Woodward

 

The life of a young adult is crazy complicated. Decisions need to be made and opportunities must be sought out. Scott Coffey directs Adult World, a dim and warm coming of age tale that centers on Amy (Emma Roberts), who has just graduated from college and is looking for her next big commitment in life, she wants to be a loved poet resembling the late great Sylvia Plath. Amy is not the most amiable or polished young woman, in fact she’s awkward as hell and extremely naïve, her parents are also very desperate for her to find some kind of income. Story of my life let me tell you.

 

Amy gets a job at her local sex shop because no one else will hire a poet, and being a naïve virgin makes being inside the shop ridiculously uncomfortable for her. Roberts’ comedic delivery is quite charming in the beginning of the film while Amy is being exposed to brand new sexy things. The sexiest thing in the sex shop would be her young and attractive manager Alex (Evan Peters), oh gosh this local bug eyed beauty is a sweet and kind artist and has everything a young woman would swoon over. He is the classic boy next door who is legitimately fucking awesome. Another employee at this sex shop is the fabulous diva-tastic transvestite Rubia (an unrecognizable Armando Riesco who steals the show!), the shop is owned by a horny elderly couple and Cloris Leachman does her thing and I love her. So, Amy is now turned on by Alex, confused and curious about Rubia and a little grossed out by the owners, thankfully her life has gotten a little more interesting. Then she meets John Cusack, who plays her favorite poet Rat Billings, and by the way who doesn’t enjoy a good old John Cusack performance? Jackpot.

 

Coffey plunges the audience into the young adults’ exploration of trying to get your life together when you might be blinded or held back by your fears and anxieties. Failing and failing even though you might have tried your absolute fucking hardest, finding the courage to pick yourself up off of that little pathetic single mattress and continue on even when you think you will be stuck in an unfulfilling rut forever.

 

Finally, our Amy blossoms into a strong confident woman, it is pleasing to watch, and the film lightly pats you on the back telling you that you can achieve your goals and quietly gets you smiling. Adult World got my mind gears going and I made a great decision myself: that I do indeed need to have a transvestite best friend so we can stay young forever while playing dress

up and gossiping about men, sex. and life.