‘The Spectacular Now’ Film Opens at Malverne Theater Wednesday

A critically-appraised film by the writers of “500 Days of Summer” will be opening at Malverne Cinema 5 on Wednesday. 

“The Spectacular Now,” based on the NY Times best-selling book, is a comedy-drama which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival earlier this month. Directed by James Ponsoldt, the film is a “three-dimensional portrait of youth confronting the funny, perilous business of modern love and adulthood.”

The film tells the story of Sutter Keely (Miles Tenner), a high school senior who unexpectedly falls in love with "the good girl" Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley).

The film has been praised by critics for its authenticity and charm. It has received a certified “fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes, with 93 percent of critics giving a favorable review. 

Joe Neumaier of the NY Daily News gave the film 5 out of 5 stars, calling it a "complex, realistic" story with outstanding performances from the cast.

“The wonder in a perfect movie like “The Spectacular Now” is not necessarily in how it depicts the core relationship — though that’s spectacular in and of itself," Neumaier says in his review. It’s also how everything caught on the sidelines or glimpsed at the corners feels so real. We could wander toward those details of the story, too, and be just as engrossed."

Showtimes for The Spectacular Now at the Malverne Theater are 1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:40 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. The theater is located at 350 Hempstead Avenue.