It’s not all that uncommon when you go to see the film version of a favorite book to come away disappointed. Sometimes it’s your fault, going in with ridiculously high expectations, perhaps. And sometimes that’s the movie’s fault, tampering with the story or over-doing the special...

Young Adult, which becomes available on DVD today, is funny, at points very funny. But not funny in an uplifting or cute kind of way, like in a romantic comedy. More like funny awkward, funny embarrassing, funny a little painful at times. Mavis Gary (played by Charlize Theron), the young adult...