The marketing campaign for this movie lied to me! It wasn’t the fun loving goofball comedy that I was expecting. Instead the movie was full of broken hearts, broken homes, and broken promises. I was bamboozled! I’m guessing it tested poorly so the studio decided to do some re-shoots, adding in the multiple punches to the groin that were peppered throughout the movie. I lost count but there were at least five separate fist to balls in there. Comedy Gold. Needless to say I was a bit letdown by the movie. Even still I gave this movie three stars in my netflix account…. all based solely on the power of the kick ass soundtrack. Top to bottom it is chock full of goodness. The true test of a soundtrack’s skill is if it effortlessly blends the obvious hits (“Your Love,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Rock Me Amadeus”) with some lesser known neglected songs (I’m in Love With a Girl, Modern Love, Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely”. It’s like making a killer mix tape. You want to rope them in with something they know, then when you have them entranced with a sense of security and familiarity you drop the knowledge on them. Two people in film today stand out in my eyes for soundtrack mix tape building: Tarantino and Cameron Crowe. Their consistent mixing excellence makes them the measuring sticks for all other Hollywood mix tape makers. Whoever worked on Adventureland’s mix is now right up there with them. The movie single handedly made me go home and download a few albums I probably already should have had:
Husker Du – Candy Apple Grey
My only knowledge of Husker Du before seeing this film was derived from Joe Dirt. Sad, I know.
David Bowie- Let’s Dance
Another Bowie Song (“Cat People”) from this album turns up in Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds aka the Bizzaro Adventureland. The marketing of that movie made it look not so good. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Outside of one painful scene involving Mike Myers, who may or may not have thought he was filming an Austin Powers sequel,it is a great film. Go see it now.
The Replacements – Let it Be
I love Paul Westerberg’s 14 Songs so it would make sense that I should own this Replacements CD. Thanks for the nudge, Adventureland
Big Star – No. 1 Record – Radio City
I had previously downloaded this cd after reading Love is a Mixtape AKA the most soul crushing book about love and loss. ever. By comparison It makes Adventureland look like the goofball comedy that those ad men positioned it as. Perhaps everyone should be made to read Love is a Mix Tape before renting Adventureland.
Adventureland – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
“Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed
“Modern Love” by David Bowie
“I’m in Love with a Girl” by Big Star
“Just Like Heaven” by The Cure
“Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco
“Don’t Change” by INXS
“Your Love” by The Outfield
“Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House
“Looking for a Kiss” by The New York Dolls
“Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely” by Husker Du
“Unsatisfied” by The Replacements
“Pale Blue Eyes” by The Velvet Underground
“Farewell Adventureland” by Yo La Tengo
