First movie from 2010 I am rating and it happens to be a quality movie. I'll say it this is not the best movie obviously or even close to it. What it is though is another quirky movie starring the always awkward Micheal Cera.This movie at first glance just seems to be another movie that has Micheal Cera smarter than most of his peers therefore cannot get laid. In retrospect this movie was more than that. It was chalk full of some great cinema references and awkward moments that were chalk full of humour.
This movie plays heavily on Micheal Cera being an awkward teenager and for me it works. I still find him as funny as ever and his conversations with the characters in this movie are what make it watchable. His conversations with Leftie and when he is talking about Phil stand out as simply hilarious. for me a lot of the other characters really weren't that great. Justin Long was not funny neither were most of the supporting cast. Sad to say it as much as I love him Steve Buscemi was not at his best in this one, neither was Zach Galifianakis but he can say almost anything and make me chuckle so he is forgiven.
There were some things about the film in general that did not work for me. The cut scenes of clay mation were totally unnecessary and really just bothersome. We get it your trying to make your movie look "indie" but they did not need to be in there. Also I felt that this movie was rushed. It felt it was jumping from place to place and it really fucked with the flow. This lead to a severe lack of character development in some parts. Just how fast it moved from I'm a loser to I have a girlfriend to I am an arsonist for you was just too fast and it somewhat lost me.
The creation of the second persona really worked for me. It was funny and broke Cera out of his little awkward shell even though only for a little bit. This is what I felt made this movie different from all the rest of the awkward teen comedies we have been flooded with since Juno hit it big. Francois does what ever it takes to get Nick laid. In the end we find out that the girl may have been attracted to Francois but she fell in love with Nick(awwwwww)
Gustin Nash, the writer of this movie(well adapter) does another great job writing a quality, quirky little teenage film. Although I would highly recommend tracking down the other movie he wrote Charlie Bartlett as I found it to be of a higher quality and was more cleverly written.
I have not read the book but I have heard from someone who read it that Leftie plays a much bigger role in the book. I would have loved that in the movie too. The conversations between Nick and Leftie were the funniest in the film and to be honest Leftie's character was somewhat underdeveloped and had an immense amount of potential behind it that was left untapped.
I have no idea how much longer Micheal Cera can keep playing the same role and keep it funny but I feel that time may be coming soon. It is a good thing he does not do too many movies a year. To be honest no matter how bad you thought the film was nothing can beat hearing Micheal Cera, with a fake pencil moustache say "I want to tickle your belly button from the inside. "
76/100 B
-Hutz
Youth In Revolt the first movie in 2010 I am reviewing is another movie starring the lovable Michael Cera most like Seth Rogan find him to be used way too much and for the same role. But he does fill the role well. But this movie may have been Cera time to shine but it defiantly was not the best movie starring him.
This movie had a stunning supporting cast but the roles and jokes they laid out often fell flat and just weren't funny. Bushemi looked old and this movie really was not his thing. His character seemed out of place. Zach Galifinakis was not as funny as he normally or should be. He is by far the best stand up comedian going and in this movie it didn't show.Maybe feature films aren't his thing(although I just bought the Visioneers starring him so I'll see if he can truly be the next great comedic film star as many were praising him for in the Hangover). Justin Long was the only supporting actor whose character seemed to work and he fit right in with this movie filled with teenage angst and love. His character was so out there that he was genuinely funny although some of his jokes did fall flat.
Cera character was crafted brilliantly although redundant based on his previous works. He is an awkward teenager who loves Fellini and Sinatra but fot the life of him he can not get laid. His character and his jokes were very self serving as I feel a sort of connection to him and his feelings of out of touchiness's with today's world and customs. But Cera's charcter also felt boring at times and that he was trying far to hard to grasp for a Juno esque comedy of saying things that hipsters would love but awkwardly so everyone thinks it's funny. His character did seem really heartfelt in wanting to be with this girl. He values his friendship with his even weirder friend Leftie more than anything,although if you watch the special features you see a scene where Cera's character(Twisp) beats up his friend for the dog. Thankfully that scene was cut as it would have totally ruined the only thing Cera's character really had going for him in that he was genuinely nice person torn astray by the prospect of love and getting laid.
This movie unlike every other movie Cera has been involved in really had not one else to support him it was truly the Michael Cera show and he did work it. He outplayed Galifinakis, Buschemi and Liotta although all these actors were out of their element. He showed that he can act without the need to be supported by better actors(Page and Bateman) and tighter scripts(Superbad). It will be interesting to see his next few choices for roles. Hopefully he tries a movie outside of his type casted element.
Nick Twisp's alter ego Francois ala Breathless(Sheeni's name for her furure husband) is a brilliant example of what Cera would be if he was a badass. But Francois is chalk full of humor that too relies to heavily on you knowing Cera's regularities instead of just being regularly funny. But there is a certain way he says " I want to tickle your belly button from the inside" that would make any conservative die laughing. The humor in showing the conversations between Twisp and his alter ego Francois are what really save this movie from being the next typical teenage movie looking to capitalize on Juno success ie Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist
The clay scenes intertwined in this were very neat and an interesting choice. I thought it was even cooler to wrap up the story in clay credits. Also the scene where Twisp is on shrooms was really cool and funny Nice work.
The plot of the movie was clear and precise. You knew exactly that Twisp was gong to get the girl. That the mom's boyfriend was going to leave her and have Twisp arrested. But through all the predictability it was very funny and you were rooting fro Cera all the way. I can't wait to see what next movie Nash is to do as he has become quite good on capitalizing on the teenage hipster/awkward comedy movement(he directed Charlie Bartlett which is a far better movie). Overall a sort of meh film which deserves to be put back in to obscurity for angsty teenagers of a next generation to hail as a great movie. Cera has certainly will and can do better
70/100 C++
-Mcclure
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