Somewhat darker and more dramatic than I anticipated, Young Adult was a very pleasant surprise and has definitely earned a second viewing. Charlize Theron (snubbed for an Oscar nomination, though I believe she may have deserved it) does an incredible job playing the thoroughly unlikeable Mavis Gary, a shallow former prom queen who returns to her hicksville hometown of Mercury in order to try and win back her old flame, undeterred by his married-with-newborn-child status. There are many dark laughs, and more than a few relatable moments for anyone who has indulged in the avoidance of ‘growing up’ (isn't that all of us?), but the real genius of this film is that for all the terrible things Mavis says and does — which is pretty much *everything* she says and does — you still can't help but feel some empathy for her character. Credit here goes to the combo of Theron's pitch-perfect acting (even her small facial moves speak volumes), and the team of Diablo Cody (screenplay) and Jason Reitman (director).

Perhaps not for everyone, but I'd love to see more like this please :)