Youth in Revolt

Youth in Revolt!

There are minor spoilers in this review

Michael Cera is always watchable. In this film he plays a duel role. Nick Twisp, and Francois Dillinger. Dillinger is the alter ego, of Twisp. The bad boy to win the girls heart.

Cera actually injects some danger in Dillinger. Despite him looking somewhat fey. The same is somewhat true about Trey. I kept being reminded of that kid on Glee

It starts off quite interesting. Cera, is self centered teenage virgin. In some ways this film  mirrors Juno. Cera plays a teenage geek/loser quite well. There is the discussion about Counter rotational friction, as an aid to masturbation. Unlike the Heroine of Juno, Cera is passive. The girl makes the first move. 

He cannot find words when they first meet. The girl thinks he is stuck up. As the film progresses and he grows in confidence the self analysis vanishes. Its quite a talky film.

Nick, and his beau are quite a cute couple. She is exploring her power. Playing with him quite unmercifully. Only to tell him, she has a boyfriend.

Nick creates an imaginary gf, to save his crushed pride and console himself. A 17 year old lingerie model doing work with Italian migrant workers- (I assume this is unfortunate) 

There are animated scenes throughout this film. I am not sure if it adds anything. One of the scenes has nudity

When I was watching this movie. I was unsure about certain things. For a minor spoiler....

Nick is seen  masturbating to a copy of Hustler, Why not online? Nick, writes a written journal, rather than keeping it on computer. His gf, also writes her diary in short hand. Why not on a laptop? 

The book was written in 1993. The pre-internet era. But not pre Usernet and Doogie Howser has a journal

 The material seems older than that. They are listening to records.

The cop, who takes up with Nicks Mom, gives Nick a thrashing. Now, play this hand out. A policeman, who after starting a relationship with a woman. Physically punishes, a teen. Maybe he is operating in loco parentis, Still. Its a bit jarring. 

When did you last see physical punishment of a teen  in a movie?

 Not in ``Superbad''.

 Not in the ``American Pie ' 'Franchise. .. 

When? Did it even happen in Porkies?

 Was the source material set in the 1970s?

It wasn't a bad movie. It seemed disjointed. The introspection of the opening was lost. This could be Nicks development. He is growing as a character as he rebels. He makes a new friend for example. He moves town.

Steve Buscemi' character, Nick's father was a bit more sympathetic than I thought he was supposed to be. Yes he had a younger gf. So what,-no fool like an old fool. 

Again I think the film is glossing over something from the source material. Ditto why is the neighbor still hanging around? What purpose does it serve

If anything Cera may have been a bit too old for the role The bumfluff moustache does not look right.

 The Indian American chap with the perfect English accent. (Again, is this older source material adapted but not written as a period piece? ) 

In conclusion the film  quite fun. It could have done with more jokes, and less animation.

As I said Cera is always fun to watch. Elaine Paige got a much better break with Juno