Graced by some of the most watchable young stars around, this coming of age tale set in a down at heel theme park deserves to win the biggest cuddly toy imaginable.

Adventureland
****
Dir: Greg Mottola
With: Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Stewart

Graced by some of the most watchable young stars around, this coming of age tale set in a down at heel theme park deserves to win the biggest cuddly toy imaginable. In the Adventureland of the title, the ultimate prize is a "big ass panda" and only those who fancy immediate dismissal would ever allow a customer to win one of the priceless specimens.

James (Jesse Eisenberg) shouldn't be here. With a place at Columbia grad school to study journalism - Dickens is his hero - he should be in Europe, soaking up the culture. But his dad's demotion - it's 1987 and Reaganomics are taking their toll - means he has to roll up, roll up, to what seems like a rotten summer job, which turns out to be a head trip in itself, with good pals to be made and love, perhaps, to be found. Joining Eisenberg as a carnie is the terrific Kristen Stewart (Twilight), while Ryan Reynolds (Definietely, Maybe) excels as the park's mechanic/ladies man. Based on the youthful experiences of director Greg Mottola (Superbad), Adventureland is a sweet and gentle comedy drama with a story that unfolds in a genuinely smart way. If that's not enough, there's a Lou Reed-heavy soundtrack. Satellite of love indeed.

Tomorrow, 8.30pm, Cineworld.