Adult World (2014)

Adult World is a sharp little comedy about that messy, bruising stretch after graduation when ambition hasn’t yet learned how to pay rent, and it captures that moment with wit, bite, and a surprisingly tender heart. Emma Roberts makes Amy’s self-serious poet dreams both hilariously cringe and oddly relatable, while John Cusack slides in as a reclusive literary icon with just the right mix of charm, ego, and weary intelligence. The movie’s vibe is grounded and slightly off-kilter—part workplace comedy in a sex shop, part coming-of-age reality check—skewering artistic pretension without ever turning cruel. It’s not for anyone who wants broad jokes or a squeaky-clean tone (it’s R-rated and gets emotionally spiky), but if you like character-driven comedies that feel honest about failure, delusion, and small steps toward growing up, this one’s a gem.

Adult World is aiming for a scrappy, coming-of-age comedy about artistic delusion meeting adult reality, with Emma Roberts leaning hard into the “I’m destined for greatness” awkwardness. The problem is it can feel like two different movies fighting each other: raunchy workplace comedy on one side, indie character study on the other, and the tone doesn’t always land cleanly. A lot of the characters play more like recognizable types than fully lived-in people, and the romance in particular can feel more like a checkbox than a spark. Still, if you enjoy low-key, cringe-forward humor and don’t mind a messy, uneven arc in exchange for a few sharp moments (and a pleasantly odd John Cusack turn), you may find it worthwhile; if you want tight writing and emotional payoff, this might waste your time.