Paper Towns

Paper Towns: Relatable and Heartfelt

By M. F. B. Porter

Grade: B-

Plot Summary:

Paper Towns is based on the novel of the same name, written by John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevigne. It is a coming of age story about finding yourself and understanding some of life’s mysteries.  

The story follows Wolff’s character Quentin - Q for short - as he struggles to find meaning in his life as his senior year of high school draws to a close.  Since a young age, Q has been entranced by Margo, the beautiful yet illusive girl across the street.  They were strange fast friends in childhood, but now it’s been nine years, and while Q has spent his life under the radar, others took notice of Margo.  As a senior, she is the talk of the town as well as the local high school, and she only becomes more mysterious as the year draws on.  

Out of nowhere, Margo taps on Q’s window one night.  For the first time in nine years, and they have one night of fun and revenge together.  The next day, before Q can catch Margo at school to talk about it, she’s disappeared.  But Q knows Margo, and he knows that she always leaves a trail of clues for people to find her.  When Q finds one by chance, he decides that with the help of his friends, he should go after the girl he loves.

Thoughts:

I’ve heard from several sources that some viewers of Paper Towns felt that the film was trying to be something that it’s not.  I have to disagree.  This could have something to do with my own high school experience, but I found all of the characters very relatable and realistic, even endearing.  I have long been a fan of John Green’s novels, and the film adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars was one of my top favorite movies of last year.  Paper Towns wasn’t quite as good as it’s predecessor, however the same realistic, powerful issues and characters were good, and the cinematography was oddly striking.  Everyone has somebody who taught them an important lesson when they were young, and films like Paper Towns are very important for teens and people of all ages to watch, whether it specifically reminds the viewer of their own high school years or if it gives a new experience, most people experience strong emotions in a movie like this.

Content:

Paper Towns is rated PG-13 for some language, drinking, sexuality and partial nudity - all involving teens.  Language is mild throughout with one F word, and a lot of it is somewhat derogatory.  Words like whore, and slut.  There is some teen drinking, but it’s not overbearing.  One boy drinks beer from a keg and is obviously sick afterward.  As far as sexuality, there is one scene while Q and Margo are on their night out where a boy jumps out of a window naked and runs across a lawn.  We only see his butt, and it is for about 10-15 seconds.  A dead body is briefly shown at the beginning of the film, but it isn’t gory or grotesque.  It’s only for a few seconds.  For more detailed content, click here.