The Spectacular Now

August 15, 2013

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A hit at Sundance, “The Spectacular Now” is a largely refreshing and unforced look at the ebb and flow of adolescence, particularly when it comes to fear of the future.

This isn’t your typical I-don’t-want-to-fill-out-my-college-applications angst fest. Directed by James Ponsoldt (“Smashed”), and written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (“(500) Days of Summer”), the film digs for the tough and oft-contradictory truths of taking the next step, not to mention taking one’s own advice.

Sutter (Miles Teller) is a character many viewers will recognize. He’s not a cliché, but a singular example of a specific archetype. He’s popular among girls and guys, but his hard-partying ways make it nearly impossible for anyone to take him seriously. He ably charms the hell out of his teachers, but he also tests their patience by failing to realize his potential. He’s adamant when it comes to pushing new squeeze Aimee (Shailene Woodley) to chase her college dreams, but he can’t bring himself to internalize and employ all that motivational speaking.

That “The Spectacular Now” can take this tired tale and shake it to life, even bringing unaffected vitality to a daddy-issue backstory and the constant sub-element of alcoholism, is a very noteworthy triumph. Credit goes to the filmmakers, but also, in no small part, to Teller, a blossoming dramatic actor who continues to deliver on the promise of his breakout turn in “Rabbit Hole.”

The trouble with the movie is the way its writers view women, a problem that also affected “(500) Days.” Woodley gives a very tender performance as Aimee, but like Zooey Deschanel’s Summer, she ultimately exists only to usher the male protagonist toward salvation. Sutter may recognize that he doesn’t deserve Aimee, but that doesn’t fix the way she’s treated by the script, which even credits her success to the man by whom she’ll stand without question.

It’s a pity the film is so glaringly off-putting in this regard, because otherwise, it’s a terrifically acted and well-observed look at the strange and spectacular pain of youth.