FILM REVIEW: PAPER TOWNS (12A)

An ideal date movie for young-adults.

Last year’s The Fault In Our Stars exceeded many people’s expectations and did great at the box office – bringing in $300million worldwide. So, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing another John Green novel adaptation just a year later.

Paper Towns is a coming-of-age drama about an anxious teen named Quentin (Nat Wolff) and his quirky neighbour Margo (Cara Delevingne). The story opens with the boy narrating  how he became best friends with the free-spirited girl next-door until social labels pulled them apart. He’s now the school nerd and lacking in confidence, whilst she’s labelled popular and cool.

Just when Quentin is about to lose all hope of their relationship blossoming again, Margo turns up at his house and invites him on an all-night adventure through their hometown – which just so happens to be the best night of his life. The very next day, Margo disappears leaving behind cryptic clues for Quentin to decipher. The search leads Quentin and his friends on a journey where they’re not just looking for the girl, they’re looking for themselves.

Apologies for that cheesy cliché line – but hey, this is a cheesy and cliché film. It’s a shame because the film-makers were clearly attempting something different, but this is ultimately nothing we haven’t seen before.

Unfortunately Paper Towns is unlikely to stick in your mind much past the closing credits, but you should find this an enjoyable watch nonetheless. The movie particularly becomes pleasurable during a road-trip – where more time is invested in the supporting characters  providing a few laugh-out-loud moments. Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne have genuine onscreen chemistry, but I wasn’t rooting for them like I was with the leads in The Fault In Our Stars.

See Paper Towns and much more at Showcase Cinema, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date show times. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’

Mikey Clarke [youtube id=”rFGiHm5WMLk” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Genre: Coming-Of-Age Drama

Cast: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams, Justice Smith & Halston Sage

Running Time: 1 hr 49 mins

Directed by: Jake Schreier

See if you liked: If I Stay & Dear John