Reuniting Junos writer Diablo Cody with director Jason Reitman alongside Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, Young Adult was never going to be anything short of brilliant. The beauty of the story, just as with Kristen Wiigs Bridesmaids, is that the lead character was not entirely sympathetic. As Mavis Gary, Theron seemed to take delight in starring as the creatively blocked author who returns to her Minnesota hometown to steal her childhood sweetheart away from his wife and baby. As always with Codys scripts, the one-liners were snappy and the ending emotionally poignant.
In respect to Juno, one of its strengths was its soundtrack. The Mouldy Peaches Kimya Dawson featured quite heavily, as did composer Mateo Messina who returns on this compilation with several inspired covers. As well as the Foo Fighters Big Me, Soundgardens Black Hole Sun and Pearl Jams Even Flow, Faith No Mores Epic and Becks Where Its At have been given a new lease of life in the style of what can only be described as fantastically cheesy elevator music.
Instrumental tracks aside, the rest of the album is packed with classic alt-rock anthems that will make Generation X kids reminisce about life in the good ol days. From 4 Non Blondes Whats Up and The Lemonheads Its A Shame About Ray to Dinosaur Jr.s Feel The Pain, Teenage Fanclubs The Concept and Crackers Low all those that grunged out in the 90s are going to wallow magnificently in everything on offer here. My personal favourite is of course Veruca Salts Seether. Its as kick-ass now as what it was when I first heard it back in 94.
Its a real shame that at the time of writing this, Young Adult is about to disappear from cinema screens across the nation. Without the marketing and distribution budget of a Box Office blockbuster, a lot of moviegoers will have missed this cracker of a film. I loved the movie and adore the soundtrack. I hope that come DVD/Sky Premiere time Young Adult gets the recognition it deserves.