There were plenty of blockbusters drawing in large audiences to the theatres in the summer of 2013.  Because of this, there were even more underrated films, some of which I haven’t even heard of until now. One of these films was The Spectacular Now, which had the writers from the critically acclaimed 500 Days of Summer. Is The Spectacular Now a hidden gem?

The plot focuses on a high school senior named Sutter.  Sutter seems like the perfect teen, but he has poor grades and spends his time partying and drinking.

He’s focuses more on the present rather than the future.  Because of this, his girlfriend breaks up with him, resulting in an episode of binge drinking that ends when he wakes up on his classmate’s lawn the next morning. The girl, named Aimee, enters a relationship with Sutter, who still has problems with drinking and coping with his recent break-up. Sutter tries more than once to win his ex-girlfriend back.  Despite the struggles of the newly introduced couple, they find out more about themselves and what they need to do to improve their lives.

As a movie reliant on character development, it succeeds.  Sutter’s character may take some time to get used to and become likable. But even if his drinking habit is hard to overcome, he becomes likable as you get a sense of his life and what lies ahead for him.  It is very relatable, especially to college-age viewers, and a movie can definitely succeed if it connects too well to the audience.

The difference of the two characters also ensures a connection with the audience. As Aimee starts out as an isolated book nerd, Sutter is the life of the party. They both try to give the other a view of what their life is like.  Aimee is also a very likable character, and the audience wants the two to have a successful ending.

The movie boasts some very solid acting. Miles Teller plays Sutter, and he gives a very genuine performance. He does an excellent job portraying the character with a drinking problem, often a difficult shoes to fill. Shailene Woodly plays Aimee, who is fresh off of her success in The Descendants. She continues to shine, as her acting in The Spectacular Now makes the character so much more real.  Other young actors who you might recognize from films such as Scott Pilgrim vs the World and The Hunger Games, do a solid job as well. It gives me hope for the future  That these young actors and actresses are portraying the roles that they do.

The Spectacular Now is, well, spectacular.  With a solid plot and great characters that the audience can connect to, it is a shame that this was overshadowed by many high-budget blockbuster in 2013.  Though the main character does take some getting used to, this emotional coming of age flick can not only make the young audience relate, but it can also be a great film for adults.  Hopefully  future films like this can get the attention they deserve.