Paper Towns Review

Paper Towns

Let me preface this with the fact that I did read the book and am an extremely dedicated John Green fan. I've been looking forward for this movie for a long time and think my expectations may have been a little too high. Overall the movie was really funny and entertaining but my expectations were not met. I firmly believe that the reason the movie is not successful is because it imagines teenagers as more complex, complicated and forward thinking than adults like to think they are. Its another of the many sad truths of today's society.

The Casting/Acting

I thought the acting was really on point. The outside opinions of the movie include very mixed reviews on the acting so I was't sure what to think. Specifically the three boys: Nat Wolff, playing Q, Austin Abrams who plays Ben, and especially Justice Smith as Radar.  The chemistry was much stronger between the friends than any of the romantic relationships. Justice Smith is going to be a big star. I called it, you remember that. The version that Nat plays of Q came off too confident for me. He didn't seem to have the cringe-worthly awkward, un-extraordinary qualities that book-Q possessed. This could have been a directing choice or scripting as well but it seems appropriate to include here. Cara Delevingne's first real endeavour as a leading lady, Margo, was about as good as one could be. Her American accent was rough for several words, noticeably during the scene she says 'car' over and over. Sadly, the best, funniest and most entertaining parts of the movie were those not including Margo on screen. Margo seems to be a better character when unseen. An opinion expressed in the video below is that the movie should have been written into more of a road trip movie. I agree completely, although I respect their attempt to stay true to the book. If they hadn't stayed true to the book, I would have been even more upset.

Cinematography

The movie came off very beautiful. There wasn't anything that clearly stood out except for the super cheesy map. I wish it didn't seem so fake and animated. Because the movie was so beautiful, it almost seemed like it took itself too seriously. Someone needed to tell the director to calm down with the sun flairs and with the shots that made Cara/Margo look like an angel. It was a little much at times. A scene that sticks out in my mind is Margo and Q driving around downtown Orlando. It was a several different shots of Margo with her head out the window while Q stares at her. I can't exactly put my finger on why I didn't like it. It just felt too good and too Hollywood for a movie and book that are supposedly down to earth.

The Script

The dialog kept fairly close to the book. An upsetting but justified change was the omission of SeaWorld. I wish that they could have kept in the hilarity of the scene from the book, adjusting it slightly to not include the horrifying acts of the park. The mystery of Margo was nearly all gone. It's hard to imagine that Margo 'wanted to make sure he knew she was fine' when she left him an address to a creepy old strip mall (which had a much bigger sense of wonder in the book). If she wanted to leave him a message, she could have done just that. I get why they couldn't show all the clues she left for him because it takes him so long to solve it but maybe make it more believable.

Conclusions

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. I cried. I laughed. I still fully support John Green and his future movies and novels. If you like teen movies or coming of age movies, rent it if you've got the time. If not, maybe catch it when it goes on Netflix.

A video review that I watch that was both hilarious and accurate.