The second adaptation of a work by popular YA author John Green does not have the better source material, but the result may be better, thanks to the improvements made by YA adaptation specialists Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (The Spectacular Now and The Fault in Our Stars). 

Quentin “Q” Jacobsen (Nat Wolff, TFIOS’s Isaac) has grown up loving Margo Roth Spiegelman from across the street (Cara Delevingne, Mother Chucker in Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” video). On the eve of graduating from high school, Margo enlists Q on a mysterious late-night revenge mission before disappearing into thin air the next day. Now Q and his pals—Ben (Austin Abrams) and Radar (Justice Smith)—must solve the mystery of Margo and reunite Q with the love of his life. 

The best part of Green’s novel all occurs before Margo’s disappearance. The narrative changes made in the movie by Neustadter and Weber strip down and enliven the final two acts. The conclusion is so massively different and improved as to completely reshape my reaction to the story and Margo. Paper Towns is that rare bird: an adaptation that surpasses its source.