Plot
A young man and his friends embark upon the road trip of their lives to find the missing girl next door.
Release Year: 2015
Rating: 7.1/10 (1,608 voted)
Critic's Score: 65/100
Director: Jake Schreier
Stars: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams
Storyline
Adapted from the bestselling novel by author John Green, PAPER TOWNS is a coming-of-age story centering on Quentin and his enigmatic neighbor Margo, who loved mysteries so much she became one. After taking him on an all-night adventure through their hometown, Margo suddenly disappears - leaving behind cryptic clues for Quentin to decipher. The search leads Quentin and his quick-witted friends on an exhilarating adventure that is equal parts hilarious and moving. Ultimately, to track down Margo, Quentin must find a deeper understanding of true friendship - and true love.
Writers: John Green, Scott Neustadter
Cast: Nat Wolff -
Quentin
Cara Delevingne -
Margo
Austin Abrams -
Ben
Justice Smith -
Radar
Halston Sage -
Lacey
Jaz Sinclair -
Angela
Cara Buono -
Mrs. Jacobsen
Josiah Cerio -
Young Quentin
Hannah Alligood -
Young Margo
Meg Crosbie -
Ruthie
Griffin Freeman -
Jase
Caitlin Carver -
Becca
RJ Shearer -
Chuck
Susan Macke Miller -
Mrs. Spiegelman
Tom Hillmann -
Mr. Spiegelman
Trivia:
The "SeaWorld" scene from the novel will not be seen in the movie. This is because the movie "Blackfish" had made people rethink SeaWorld and captivity. If the SeaWorld scene were in the movie, people would possibly boycott and the box office would be low. The screenplay writers decided it would be best to not put the SeaWorld scene in. See more »
Quotes:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 7/10
"Maybe all the strings inside of him broke."
Walking into the cinema... John Green is the author for this teen
drama. Can this film rise above the typical coming of age films?
Coming of age films are not new to the cinematic landscape, but
Hollywood manages to propagate a new batch for each generation. Every
once and a while, one stands out from the rest. From Rebel Without a
Cause to Say Anything to Breakfast Club, this genre has provided
positive memories and the lines that resonate throughout our younger
years. Paper Towns and author John Green have struck this cord and
provide a voice for this generation. The high school journey of Quentin
(Nat Wolff) and his mysterious neighbour Margo (Cara Delevingne) is an
adaptation of the Green novel. Quentin and Margo are friends throughout
their childhood but have grown apart over the years. Then on a fateful
night during their last year of high school, Margo asks Quentin for his
help on a mission of revenge against friends who have done her wrong.
The midnight escapade becomes a life-changing event for Quentin and he
begins to pine after Margo again, then she mysteriously disappears.
Family and friends want to know where she went and the mystery deepens
as Quentin finds clues about her whereabouts that Margo left behind. He
recruits his band of friends to take the road trip of a life time to
find this teenage runaway. Throughout the life-transitory road trip,
Quentin finds out more about himself, his relationships with his
friends and what to do with his misplaced love of the mysterious Margo.
Throughout the opening moments of Paper Towns it feels like it was
going down the predictable coming of age narrative. Boy meets girl,
girl lives across the street, girl lives an adventurous life and boy
pines after her from a distance. Quickly, director Jake Schreier (Robot
and Frank) pulls the story out of the hormonal malaise and into the
kaleidoscope of different expectations. His lead characters provide an
unexpected depth. Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne were perfectly cast in
this teen mystery. Wolff proves to have a John Cusack (Say Anything)
quality that makes him appealing as the average boy that proves cool in
the end, while Delevingne provides enough smouldering excitement to
make her worth this young man's pursuit. They are surrounded by a
wonderful cast of characters that compliment the comedic dialogue and
the contemplative moments of the script. This is where the film
differentiates itself within this genre. Even within the stereotypical
trappings of the party scene, suggested teen sex and proverbial geek
trio, the writing lifts the story line out of the post-pubescent mire.
It may seem unrealistic to think that teens could speak at the depth
that they do in Paper Towns, but the characters make these lines
plausible and accessible. There is a maturity with a twist of hormonal
angst that gives this story the necessary edge it needs. Also, the
conclusion adds the unique twist that provides a surprising
satisfaction to the adventure.
In the realm of teen dramas, Paper Towns does provide a new perspective
on a generation, but if there are any difficulties with the film it was
in the lack of parental involvement. In the typical American
high-school scenarios, the lack of representation by the parents in the
film does leave a hole in the narrative. The only people who seem to
speak into the lives of these kids are other kids. This might be an
insight on the lives of families today or a warning signal for parents
to get more involved in the lives of their children. Regardless of the
message that is trying to convey, the lack of any adult wisdom does
leave a void in this engaging script. Paper Towns is an entertaining
film that provides an opportunity for parental dialogue with their
teens on many of the transitional issues of their lives.
Leaving the cinema: Paper Towns was a pleasant surprise. It does
provide a new generation a cinematic voice and opens the door to some
great topics of discussion for families.
Reel Dialogue: What are the bigger questions to consider from this
film? 1. What is sacrificial love? (John 15:13, Ephesians 5:25) 2. Is
life mysterious? (Colossians 2:1-3, Matthew 13:11-13) 3. Does God care
about my dreams? (Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 16:3)
Written by Russell Matthews based on a five star rating system @
Russelling Reviews #russellingreviews #papertownsmovie
Labels: Cara Delevingne Coming of Age film Do we need another coming of
age film Halston Sage high school Jake Schreier John David John Green
Nat Wolff puberty The Fault in my stars
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