Young Adult

Young Adult

Year: 2011

Runtime: 94 min

Language: Korean

Director: Jason Reitman

Budget: $12M

DramaComedy

A successful young adult fiction writer, Mavis Gary, returns to her hometown hoping to relive past successes and reconnect with an old flame. There, she unexpectedly forms a bond with a former classmate who remains fixated on high school memories. This encounter prompts a humorous and poignant examination of regret, missed opportunities, and the search for connection in adulthood.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Young Adult (2011)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Young Adult (2011). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

Set in the present day, the film explores modern issues such as divorce, alcoholism, and the struggle for identity. Mavis's journey reflects the complexities of adulthood and the challenges of reconciling past dreams with current realities. This contemporary setting allows for relatable themes of regret and self-discovery.

Location

Minneapolis, Mercury, Minnesota

The movie takes place in Minneapolis and the small town of Mercury, Minnesota, where Mavis returns to her roots. Mercury is depicted as a quaint hometown, evoking nostalgia for Mavis as she reconnects with old acquaintances and memories. The local sports bar serves as a central location for her attempts to relive her past and confront her present.

🏙️ City 🌳 Hometown 🎉 Sports Bar

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:58

Main Characters – Young Adult (2011)

Meet the key characters of Young Adult (2011), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mavis Gary

Mavis is a complex character struggling with personal demons including divorce and alcoholism. She exhibits a mix of nostalgia and desperation in her quest to reclaim her past and her perceived love for Buddy. Mavis's impulsive nature often leads her into chaotic situations, making her a relatable yet flawed protagonist.

🖊️ Writer 🍷 Alcoholism 😔 Nostalgia

Matt Freehauf

Matt is an old acquaintance of Mavis who suffers from the aftermath of a traumatic experience. Despite being wheelchair-bound, he displays resilience and offers wisdom as he warns Mavis against her reckless intentions. His character adds depth to the narrative, illustrating the capacity for kindness and understanding amidst personal struggles.

💪 Resilience 🛠️ Friend 🎸 Music

Buddy Slade

Buddy is Mavis's high school boyfriend, now married and navigating his own life as a father. His character serves as a focal point for Mavis's nostalgia and unfulfilled dreams. Ultimately, his interactions with Mavis reveal the complexities of relationships and the importance of moving on from the past.

👨‍👧 Father 🎶 Musician 🏠 Family

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:58

Major Themes – Young Adult (2011)

Explore the central themes of Young Adult (2011), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Heartbreak

The theme of heartbreak permeates the film, as Mavis grapples with her failed marriage and unresolved feelings for her high school sweetheart. Her journey is marked by moments of emotional turmoil, culminating in the revelation of her past pain, including a miscarriage. This theme highlights the complexities of love and loss, and the impact they have on one's identity.

🛤️ Self-Discovery

Mavis's journey is essentially one of self-discovery as she confronts her past and reevaluates her choices. Throughout the film, she learns that true fulfillment cannot be found in nostalgia or unhealthy relationships. By penning the final chapter of her book, she symbolizes her desire to embrace change and find a hopeful path forward.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:58

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Uncomfortable homecoming stories like Young Adult

Stories about flawed characters confronting their pasts in their hometowns.Discover movies like Young Adult that feature protagonists on a cringe-inducing journey back to their hometowns. These similar dramas and comedies focus on delusional quests, facing past failures, and the bittersweet reality of people and places that have moved on.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a linear, character-driven path as the protagonist attempts to reclaim a idealized past version of their life or self. Their misguided actions create a steady buildup of cringe and melancholy, leading to a climax of humiliation that often contains a glimmer of hard-won, ambiguous self-awareness.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific emotional blend of dark humor, profound sadness, and awkward cringe. They are united by a central theme of delusion colliding with reality in a familiar setting, creating a deeply personal and often uncomfortable viewing experience centered on character flaws.

Bittersweet cringe comedies similar to Young Adult

Darkly funny stories where humor stems from profound sadness and failure.If you liked the mix of dark humor and emotional depth in Young Adult, explore these similar movies. They feature painfully awkward comedy derived from flawed characters, self-destructive behavior, and a bittersweet tone that finds humor in life's saddest moments.

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Narrative Summary

These stories unfold through a series of increasingly misguided actions by a deeply flawed but sympathetic protagonist. The comedy arises from the tension between their delusional self-image and observable reality, while the drama comes from the underlying trauma or loneliness driving their behavior. The tone consistently walks a tightrope between making you laugh and making you ache.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique tonal alchemy, seamlessly blending sharp, uncomfortable humor with substantial emotional stakes. They share a specific vibe where jokes are underscored by sadness, and character failures are both hilarious and heartbreaking, appealing to viewers who appreciate comedy with depth.

Unlock the Full Story of Young Adult

Don't stop at just watching — explore Young Adult in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Young Adult is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Young Adult Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Young Adult, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Young Adult Summary

Young Adult Timeline

Track the full timeline of Young Adult with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Young Adult Timeline

Young Adult Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Young Adult that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Young Adult Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Young Adult

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Young Adult: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Young Adult

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