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Young Adult is a 2011 American comedy-drama movie that stars Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary, a divorced ghostwriter of young adult novels who returns to her hometown of Mercury, Minnesota, to win back her ex-boyfriend Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). Upon arriving in Mercury, she discovers that Buddy is happily married with a newborn child. Despite this realization, she makes it her mission to win him back no matter the cost.

The story of Young Adult revolves around Mavis Gary, who is initially portrayed as a spoiled and self-centered person. She sees herself as successful and better than the people she left behind in Mercury, including her parents and former classmates. Her writing career is also at a standstill, and she is struggling to come up with a new book idea.

Feeling lost and disconnected, she receives an email announcing the birth of Buddy's daughter, and takes it as a sign that this could be her opportunity to reignite their romance. She becomes obsessed with the idea of winning Buddy back and moves into a hotel in Mercury to be closer to him.

Mavis' attempts to win Buddy back put her in awkward and uncomfortable situations, including sharing an evening in his home and trying to seduce him on one occasion. All the while, Buddy remains unaware of Mavis' true intentions, and she begins to realize how out of touch she is with reality.

Along the way, Mavis encounters Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt), a former high school classmate who suffered from a violent attack that left him physically disabled. Matt becomes her confidant and sounding board, as well as a voice of reason. Through their interactions, Mavis starts to slowly recognize her own flaws and insecurities, and learns to see the value in the relationships she has with her parents, Matt, and even herself.

Throughout the film, Theron captures the nuances of Mavis' character with depth and empathy, without whitewashing her more unlikable qualities. Patrick Wilson is also excellent as Buddy, conveying the complexities of a man who tries desperately to resist Mavis' advances while also succumbing to temptation.

The film's director, Jason Reitman, infuses the story with a sense of nostalgia and bittersweet humor that paints a poignant portrait of small-town life in America. The writing by Diablo Cody is sharp and truthful, and the film unfolds in unexpected ways, with twists and turns that keep the viewer engaged until the end.

In conclusion, Young Adult is a thought-provoking comedy-drama that explores the themes of self-discovery, second chances, and the nature of true love. Theron's performance is a standout, and the film offers a refreshing perspective on the coming-of-age genre. It is a must-watch for fans of films that examine the complexities of human relationships with honesty and humor.

Young Adult is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 71.