The Spectacular Now

Rating: 6.0

The Spectacular Now is a high school romantic drama that attempts to be honest and realistic. Although I admired its ambitions to treat its characters and story with sincerity, I was mostly bored with the film.

Miles Teller plays the protagonist Sutter as a lovable and funny wanderer. His performance is good in the way it portrays Sutter’s likability despite his constant alcoholism. Shailene Woodley is also good as Aimee, who is a sweet and good natured character through and through.

My main complaint with the film is its overly serious tone and predictable plot. Although the film is commendable for avoiding the usual high school clichés, it didn’t hit any notes of excitement or joyfulness that I would associate with young love. The second half is also overtaken with a predictable subplot about Sutter’s biological father that felt like an unnecessary character explanation. The film wants to be deep; yet its message about the dangers or alcoholism isn’t necessarily thoughtful or insightful.

Random notes while watching the film:
-The framing story is a letter to a Dean where the first paragraph contains talk about "fucking" a girl.
-All these crazy high school parties, I think the students in my school were too poor to afford anything like this.
-I'm sure they missed a couple of houses during their newspaper throwing.
-"She paid for popcorn and everything". Dream girl right there.
-Aimee's shirtless Xbox playing brother reminds me of a kid I used to know.
-Aimee reads Manga, instructs Sutter that the pages flip left to right.
-Sutter litters his red cups; is not environmentally friendly.
-"Mom, get off of my motherfuckin back"
-10 minutes to get ready for a date?
-"My dad died" is awkward dinner conversation...
-Her flask comes full.
-The first time I've seen Kyle Chandler as a bad guy.