Paper Towns (Review)

Paper Towns (2015)

Drama, Mystery, Romance

Directed By: Jake Shreier

I don't think there is a more commonly used storyline in movies than the "coming of age" story, it's been around forever and is utilized in multiple films per year. Halfway through 2015 and we have already seen a number of them, Dope, Inside out, and Trainwreck can all be considered coming of age stories. Not that this is a bad thing, telling the story of a person (or persons) transitional period into the next phase of their life is an easy way to connect to your audience on an emotional level. The newest in this long train of films is the adaptation of the John Green novel, Paper Towns. What seems like your typical teenage romance becomes much more when a group of friends set out to solve a seemingly impossible mystery.

The story is simple yet effective, Quentin (Nat Wolff) has been in love with his neighbor Margo (Cara Delevingne) ever since he first laid eyes on her as a kid. Growing up they were good friends but as they grew older, the space between them became greater. By the time we are introduced to Quentin he barely even speaks to her anymore. She now runs with the "popular" crowd and has created this persona around herself that she is a total badass. Throughout her short life she had been known to seek adventure and runaway, whereas Quentin plays it safe looking ahead to the future and making sure he has good grades. That is until Margo shows up at his window late one night, seeking his help in a series of crazy, revenge filled adventures.

The next day Margo is nowhere to be found and it is clear she has once again run off in search of greater pastures. After having the greatest night of his life with her just a few nights prior and with a little influence from his two best friends, he decides he needs to go on his own adventure and find her. She has left all sorts of clues as to where she has gone and Quentin takes them as a sign that she wants him to go looking. This is where the film becomes something unique, up until this point the story feels like your typical teenage romance but as soon as they set out to find her it becomes a coming of age story of the best kind. It transforms into a movie about Quentin and his two best friends Ben (Austin Abrams) and Radar (Justice Smith) as they realize their time together is winding down.

Although Quentin's love for Margo is the central focus of the film it serves as more of a passageway to the bigger idea at hand, these kids friendship. In their journey to find Margo they in turn find out more about themselves and their relationships with each other than they ever knew before. This film succeeds because of their bond as friends and the chemistry of the three actors portraying them. Nat Wolff, Austin Abrams, and Justice Smith feel like they have been friends their entire lives, just like their characters. The three guy’s playoff of each other so well and their chemistry adds a ton of emotional weight to the film. So much so that by the end you really don't care that much about Margo but about the three of them and what will happen after graduation.

I personally have never read a John Green book and I haven't seen The Fault in Our Stars yet but I can tell from this movie he has a handle on young adult storytelling. He knows how to make the story modern and connectable to the younger generations while still making it accessible to the older crowds. Much like in Dope, this movie brings youth to the screen in a way that actually reflects the way they are today and respects them. It does this while also being a bit critical of the way adults nowadays bash this idea of a successful future into our heads while we grow up. Quentin feels like he needs to get straight A's, and he needs to go to college, because he needs to have a good job and lots of money. What he realizes on his excursion is that, as much as this is good advice, it is all for nothing if he isn't enjoying himself along the way. The film is a nice reminder that we still need to live and enjoy life, despite what societal standard might tell us.

Paper Towns may not live on to be remember as one of the great coming of age stories but it is still a wonderful reflection of the times we live in, and the way we think and teach our kids to think. The film is surprisingly witty and funny and the whole time you will find yourself wishing you were back in high school, if only to experience a juvenile adventure such as this one last time. You will forgive every clichéd storyline for the bond these three kids have as well as a wonderful ending that in a way turns the whole story on its head. It's refreshing to see a teen romance that doesn't make you think that finding the one you love is more important that what you already have.

 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!