“Paper Towns” is based on the 2008 YA novel by “The Fault in Our Stars” author John Green. That book came out in 2012, and the 2014 film adaptation featured a nomination-worthy performance from Shailene Woodley – the centerpiece of an emotionally moving story about teen troubles and love. Don’t worry about having tissues handy for “Paper Towns”. Though it tries very hard to manipulate you, in many different ways, the story and the performances just can’t get you there.
In some ways, this is the teenage version of “Gone Girl”, as the mysterious Margo Roth Spiegelman (played by British model Cara Delevingne) disappears following an unforgettable evening with neighbor and former close friend Quentin (Nat Wolff from “Admission”), who’s been secretly been in love with Margo ever since her family moved-in across the street 11 years ago. Margo was out to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend and other friends, with Quentin serving as her assistant “ninja” (her word, not mine). She makes grand philosophical statements to Quentin about the importance of her quest. He’s just happy to be hanging with her.
A few days later, following her disappearance, Quentin and his two stereotypical best friends find some messages and clues that Margo left behind. Quentin believes this is Margo’s way of telling him to come find her, and this becomes his mission.
And that’s when “Paper Towns” becomes a road trip movie. For practically the entire second half Quentin, his buds and their female companions skip the last few days of high school to travel, in his mother’s van (he finally calls her 2 days later), so they can see how this game of “Margo! Polo!” plays out. Along the way, they stop at a convenience store and we get one of the film’s very surprising moments thanks to a cameo by a familiar face to members of the tween/teen girl John Green fan club.
The vast majority of “Paper Towns” is all-too familiar – teen coming-of-age/end-of-HS stuff we’ve seen in dozens of other films. The theme of finding oneself and realizing (or not yet realizing) who you are is important, but it’s presented in some of the most unoriginal ways possible. If you didn’t read the book and go into this film cold, the ending may catch you off-guard a little bit, but it’s uneven and asks the audience to take some big leaps of logic.
Wolff is likable enough to carry us along, but he’s not ready to become the next Miles Teller (who I’m sure might’ve jumped at this role pre-“Whiplash”/3-5 years ago). As for Delevingne, she recently told Entertainment Weekly that the ultimate goal of her acting career is to “f—ing Meryl Streep it!” Streep herself once said, “It is well that the earth is round that we do not see too far ahead.”
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “Paper Towns” gets a flat C. Never dull, but never exciting, this is the perfect example of a story that clearly worked on paper (and for a specific demographic) but fails to ignite any sparks on screen.
Running Time: 109 min.