Youth in Revolt

I walked into Youth in Revolt assuming I was going to hate it. After all, it is just another in a string of quirky teen comedies starring Michael Cera as an awkward hero. Everyone is clever and no kid likes current music. Instead they prefer old punk rock or 70s soft rock. I hate those kind of movies. It would be nice if teenagers were that cool in real life, but it isn't genuine.For whatever reason, I did like this movie - a lot!

Director Miguel Arteta (who has done so many indie films he may actually bleed Chuck Taylors) tells a story that is nothing new. The hero is a nerd. He is too smart for his family. He meets the girl of his dreams and has to find a way to woo her. What makes Youth in Revolt different from the Junos of the world?

The scrip is just sharper. Also, Michael Cera seems to have discovered that he can play something other than an awkward, bumbling wimp. Cera takes on two roles in this movie - smart, nerdy Nick Twisp and Twisp's bad boy alter ego Francois Dillinger. He brings a smart ass attitude to both roles. Nick is an awkward nerd, but he is smarter and more confident than both of his parents and talks to them that way. Francois is simply a juvenile delinquent. He blows up whole city blocks. He talks dirty to girls. He is nothing like any character we've seen Cera take on before. Come to think of it, neither is Nick. It's nice to see Michael Cera is more than just a one trick pony.

The supporting cast is great too. There are some stars in this movie, but they are used sparingly enough to give their apperance some real punch. Zach Galifinakis is great as Nick's con artist would-be-step-dad. Jean Smart takes a character that we have seen a million times (an overbearing, self-absorbed single mom), and gives it new life. Fred Willard, Justin Long and Steve Buscemi all have small, but good roles. It is a short appearance by Jonathan B. Wright as Nick's rival in romance, Trent, that steals the show.

Like all teen comedies, Youth in Revolt has it's shortcomings. A Thanksgiving dinner scene that is otherwise very funny is ruined by a disturbing drugged out pair of parents. The movie (like a lot of indie flicks these days) at times will inexplicably switch to animation. That gets annoying quick.

Will Youth in Revolt raise Michael Cera's profile at all? Probably not. He doesn't really need it to. It likely will make a star out of Portia Doubleday. It is the kind of movie that may be focused on kids, but has enough for adults to enjoy too. And even though it is a romance, there was more than enough action and comedy to hold my interest. I do recommend it.

THE GREEK GIVES IT A B+.