Exploring the World of Adventureland's Summer of '87
Exploring the World of Adventureland's Summer of '87, viewers are transported to a pivotal moment in young James Brennan's life. It's 1987, and after graduating college, James (Jesse Eisenberg) has his sights set on a grand European adventure. A dream, really. However, a sudden financial setback for his parents means those travel plans are abruptly — and painfully — canceled. Faced with needing to earn money for grad school, James finds himself taking the only job he can get in his hometown of Pittsburgh: a minimum-wage gig at the local, somewhat rundown amusement park, Adventureland. What starts as the worst summer job imaginable soon takes an unexpected turn when he meets the captivating and complicated Em (Kristen Stewart), a fellow park employee, setting the stage for a summer of unexpected romance, self-discovery, and the messy realities of young adulthood.
Behind the Scenes: The Making of Adventureland and Its Stellar Cast
Behind the Scenes: The Making of Adventureland and Its Stellar Cast reveals the creative forces that brought this heartfelt story to the screen in 2009. The film was both written and directed by Greg Mottola, who drew inspiration from his own experiences working at an amusement park. Produced by Miramax, This is that, and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, the movie runs for a brisk 107 minutes, capturing that extended summer feeling without overstaying its welcome. Mottola assembled an impressive ensemble, with Jesse Eisenberg perfectly embodying the awkward, intellectual James Brennan, fresh off a Renaissance Studies degree that proves
