If cinema was like reality television, in the sense that everyone eventually would have the opportunity to star in their very own movie just being themselves, then Young Adult would, I think, be typical of what would be made.  Jason Reitman’s movie, written by Diablo Cody, is a character study of a woman who, despite some talent and beauty, has made a complete mess of her life.  In a desperate, even self-delusional mood she decides to try to win back her old high school flame — despite the fact that he is now married, and has a new baby girl.  Neither fact deters her from trying to recapture some of her lost glory, and what she sees as her only chance at happiness.

Charlize Theron, a truly beautiful woman and underrated actress (her performance in Monster in 2003 is one of the greatest cinematic acting jobs, ever), is Mavis Gary, the young adult of the title.  Theron is quite good as Mavis, slovenly sloshing her way through life with gallons of alcohol and disappointing one night stands.  One suspects that there may be more to her character, especially as she narrates the fictional book Mavis is half-heartedly trying to finish writing, but it turns out that no, there really isn’t.  Mavis is exactly who she presents herself to be.

And that is where the movie is a letdown.  Sure, it would be formulaic to actually let Mavis grow as a person, learn a valuable lesson and begin to move forward with her life.  Young Adult is challenging partly because it fights the formula.  Mavis learns no great lesson from her irresponsible behavior.  She hurts everyone back in the small town she returns to, her embarrassed parents included.  She is no better off at the end of the story than she was at the beginning.  Perhaps Reitman and Cody feel this brand of antiheroine is fresh and original and worthwhile — and perhaps it is.

Maybe it’s just me who doesn’t care for loser characters.  I don’t like Mavis Gary; I think she is a loser who will never amount to anything.  Yes, she finally shows a vulnerable side, but it’s too little too late, and it doesn’t last.  Mavis remains a character that I didn’t enjoy spending time with.  She’s not the only one, by the way; I didn’t like Kristen Wiig’s character Annie Walker in Bridesmaids for many of the same reasons.  I also strenuously disliked Robert De Niro’s Jake LaMotta character in Raging Bull, too.  I don’t care that De Niro was brilliant and won the Oscar; I hated that character and resented paying to spend time with the jerk.  For me, there has to be something redeeming about even the worst characters (unless, of course, he or she is the villain of a piece) to make a movie worthwhile.  A character doesn’t have to be “good,” or noble, or idealistic.  Just give me something to like about them, or at least some clues to understand their behavior or appreciate their flaws.  There is a little of that in Young Adult, but not enough.

This is an example where my personal dislike of the main character certainly colors my thinking about the movie.  Cody’s script is perceptive, with nuggets of truth and candor in various scenes, but it’s just so downbeat that I cannot recommend it.  If everyone had a movie about themselves, quite a few would be unwatchable, and this one leans in that direction.  Thank goodness most motion picture entertainment is more, well, entertaining.  ✰ ✰ ½.  4 Jan. 2012.