MovieChat Forums > Adventureland (2009) Discussion > Film's Ending - All Wrong

Film's Ending - All Wrong

posted 9 years ago by dawnbaxter34
10 replies | jump to latest

The film should have ended on the hillside with James hitting Frigo and then everyone having a good laugh. It could have left an open-ended question of whether James and Em would meet again.

That way, the movie could have been about that summertime love that we've all experienced and moved on from.

With the ending in NYC, we wonder how long they can last together with no income and no job for him. It's one thing to date a student during the summer time but it's another thing to date a guy who has no plans for his future, no matter how sweet he is.

I'm gonna crash at the Y for a week. I'm gonna look for a *beep* job and...I don't know.

[–] PenTheater 9 years ago

Agreed. And I wouldn't doubt that the Director looks back on it and thought the same thing.
They may have chosen this ending because that is what happened to someone in real life, if this story is based on someone's real experience's, seems to me it was.

On the other hand SO many people voice here that they can't accept a move with no closer. Look at the discussions on Ghost World to name one.
They want answers! (even if they aren't realistic).
I wonder if that influences the Directors choice of ending.

Ephemeron.

[–] PenTheater 9 years ago

Another thing to consider is, if he never bothered to go to New York and look for her, how much of the rest of his life would he wonder what would have happened. That would be a good ending if it somehow eluded to that.
Any time someone mentioned New York, ...........or giant panda's.....

Ephemeron.

[–] Zippo_123 8 years ago

but it's another thing to date a guy who has no plans for his future, no matter how sweet he is.

What a weird thing to say. Would you say the same if the genders were reversed?

but it's another thing to date a girl who has no plans for her future, no matter how sweet she is.

Or is just the guy that needs to have his career planned out to be date-able for a twenty-something?

[–] tallard 8 years ago

Yes, I agree, I was really ready to walk away totally happy with the film at the hill scene. The ending is too deluded IMO.
But it's the very first time I like Kristen in a film, and that's pretty big :)

***So I've seen 4 movies/wk in theatre for a 1/4 century, call me crazy?**

[–] dawnbaxter34 8 years ago

Now, without enough money for graduate school, James nonetheless heads to New York City with his parents' blessing, and waits outside Em's apartment. She is reluctant to talk to him, feeling she has ruined everything. James tells her he sees her in a different way than she sees herself. Touched, Em brings James up to her apartment. James reveals he is not going to Columbia this year, and considers next year. He gets out of his wet clothes and finds Em still has an Adventureland shirt. They kiss and begin to take their clothes off. James asks, "Are we doing this?", and Em says, "I think so."

A week later, Em asks James if he's going to do something instead of hanging around her apartment. James says, "I don't know. Maybe I'll get a job at McDonald's."

Em kicks him out and finds someone else who isn't as sweet as James but is at least doing something with his life.

The End.

[–] JohnathanGoldsmith 8 years ago

Women who insist on having relationships only with men who are, 'doing something with their lives', are often the ones who'd love nothing more than to quit working, crap out a couple of kids, and stay home. Their insistence that their men be goal-driven and ambitious is really a kind of reaction formation, i.e., an attempt to deal with their deeply felt sense of their own lack of any ambition beyond procreation.

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

With the ending in NYC, we wonder how long they can last together with no income and no job for him.

Yes, so that's open - ended too. I liked the ending finally away from Adventureland and baggage like Connel, Lisa P etc.🐭

[–] Metatron_Fallen 8 years ago

I would have been in complete and total revolt if he hadn't seen Em again to at least apologize.

My whole life, I've taken chances. Life-changing chances. Left the USA and NEVER went back. I've lived Paris, South Africa, Germany and other places. You can always find a job. Working in a grocery shop is not the end of the world if it pays your bills and funds what you're doing- which is experiencing life.

I've traveled the world doing this. I don't have a mortgage. Nor a car payment. I doubt I will leave anything behind when I leave this rock and I don't care. I lived my life. I went out and saw all the things I wanted to see. I had relationships with women from other countries I met along the way. And I'm not finished yet.

By American standards and by the standards of the parents in this film, I must be a failure. But I wouldn't trade my life for anything or any amount of money in the world. Sometimes I look back on some of the things I've done and can't even believe I did them.

...

His plans for the future are to be a writer. He plans to get a job- he said as much. And he plans to be with her.

If I were her, that last bit would be the most important. At any rate, they're so young. Not too many things last in life. Let them have their little time together. He would have hated himself forever if he hadn't gone after her.

In the end, you DO actually regret some of the things you've done, but you will regret nothing with more remorse than the things you DIDN'T do.

[–] lizlemon567 8 years ago

Your life sounds awesome. Good on you for taking so many risks! Definitely important to leave our comfort zones and take chances sometimes. I'm sure it all worked out for James.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I don’t know. I felt bad for him being stuck in his hometown, not able to go to a prestigious grad school because his parents screwed up. I agree chasing the girl to NYC was weak. I wanted him to get the degree, not the girl.