Favourite film from the summer 2015

My favourite film this summer was Paper Towns. I thought, it having an element of mystery other than your usual ‘chick flick’ made it more interesting and exciting. I first heard of this movie through a social networking site where I found its trailer, which left me looking forward to it coming out in the cinema.

The title of this film is a metaphor in itself meaning no one really cares about anything which matters in life. People are so side tracked on other things like status and money, that they almost forget what is really important, for example family and respect. This is highlighted in the film when shortly after Marlo goes missing, the only people who really care about her absence are Q, one of her ‘true’ friends and her sister. Marlo’s own parents weren’t even bothered and told the police investigators not to put ‘missing’ signs up around the neighbourhood, which is unusual behaviour for parents.

This film is set during the last year of high school where the students are making that vital decision of choosing the next path which determines their future. As a student who has just made that difficult decision, I can relate hugely on Q’s frustration of not knowing where he stands and not knowing what to do and being anxious for the future.

De-puzzling the clues about where Marlo had gone, allows many ‘firsts’ for Q. For example he had never missed a day of school before nor gone to any parties. These are the moments we realise Q is changing for the better and is becoming his own person and also taking responsibilities. The fact that Q has his best friends helping him along the way depicts the strong relationship and allowed me personally to relate as I would do anything for my best friend. I believe that this illustrates that you shouldn’t ever be alone in life as it is unhealthy as you lose your communication skills and aren’t usually happy.

Although this was one of my favourite films over the summer, I do think it had a major bad point. I believe the ending could have been improved and made more stirring. It was very much a ‘let-down’ when Q eventually found Marlo. She was shocked to see him standing in front of her, Marlo then explained to Q that the clues were left just so he knew she was okay, not so he would come and actually find her. This meant all his efforts of finding the clues and traveling to her, was all for nothing.

The ending does provide the audience with the juxtaposition of Q finding Marlo and immediately losing her and yet over the journey discovers himself.