Movie Review: The Spectacular Now (2013)

"The Spectacular Now" (2013) follows high school senior Sutter (Miles Teller), who is drifts from party to party drinking heavily and is upset when his girlfriend Cassidy (Brie Larson) dumps him for someone with more of a "future." A drunken Sutter wakes up on the lawn of a quiet classmate, Aimee (Shailene Woodley). Sutter strikes up a friendship with Aimee and asks her to help him study geometry. The relationship deepens into romance and the two promise to stand up to their respective mothers - Aimee wants to move to Philadelphia for college, Sutter wants his mother to tell the truth about his absentee father. Both do as planned but for Sutter the truth about his father (Kyle Chandler) is more than expected or than he can handle.

This isn't the easiest teen coming-of-age drama to watch but it's one worth seeing.  "Sutter" isn't the perfect hero, but rather Teller plays him as both likeable and not so likeable at times.  He's just a kid trying to have fun and distract himself from dealing with issues he can't process.  When boozin' and seemingly fun-loving Sutter meets and starts to woo shy and sweet Aimee (Woodley) I couldn't help but be worried because this seems like such an ill-fated match but the script really works and gives a more thoughtful treatment than I thought I'd get.   The chemistry between Woodley and Teller really helps too.  Don't miss the small part Chandler plays in what turns out to be a pivotal turn as Sutter's absent father.  Bonus points for the beautiful setting of a lot of the film, which is Athens, GA (a city that holds a piece of my heart).  

For a thoughtful coming-of-age with a flawed hero, check this one out - solid B+