Paper Towns

A young man and his friends embark upon the road trip of their lives to find the missing girl next door.

Director: Jake Schreier
Writers: John Green (author), Scott Neustadter (screenplay), Michael H. Weber (screenplay)
Stars: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams & many more.

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.

Details

Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 24 July 2015 (USA).
Also Known As: Cidades de Papel.

User Review

Paper Towns is based off the book written by John Green of the same name. Book adaptations can go either way, with films leaving out certain moments and themes for a normal runtime. Paper Towns is no different to this formula and even makes it an overall better film. This review will be a comparison between the two and why the film is better.

The focus on certain themes are vastly different. The book is very romantic, one teen's will to find the love of his life since early childhood. That is the sole book's focus. However the film merely uses Q's love as a plot medium and substitutes the film's center as a coming-of-age, tumultuous journey for Quentin and his friends.

The film takes a classic formula of teen, 'growing up' films as it touches on particular themes with certain characters. For spoiler reasons, I won't name who with what themes, but expect themes about virginity/sex, self-image, closure, discovering one's self, life after high school and the bond of friendship. Of course love is in there but as I said earlier, it's merely a plot device to expand on the other themes. The book does not touch on these themes as much and that's why I believe the film in it's own right is an improvement on the book and a romance novel turned coming-of-age film was a big pay off.

The film's flaws are with the book adaptation. To be honest, the adaptation after the first act was messy, as certain pinnacles and big reveals in the book are merely brushed over within 5 minutes (book readers will know what I'm talking about). Certain character's relationship with Margo are never seen, we only see Q's. With the book expanding on every important character and their connection with Margo, the film simply does it through quick exposition, which makes it confusing and sometimes makes characters seem insignificant.

Other than those weaknesses without going into spoilers, the film is a very enjoyable ride. The characters are very likable and seeing these friends grow closer and closer is a journey worth watching. The writing finds balance between very funny and sometimes very serious. The soundtrack is perfect and teenagers/young adults will find relatable qualities through out. Turning the romance-driven book into a coming-of-age tale I felt was a bold choice that bettered the film overall.