Review: Youth In Revolt

Michael Cera has made a blossoming career out of being able to portray both awkward and nerdy while appearing lovable and endearing, and Youth In Revolt is the latest vehicle in which this is evident. The film is an attempt at a charming look at young love and sexuality, but does very little that is different, and aside from the rare funny moment, is boring and forgettable.

Cera plays Nick Twisp, the bumbling virgin who falls in love with young Sheeni Saunders played by the charming Portia Doubleday. (For reasons that are still unclear to me. Is it only because she is the first girl to ever show him any attention? The first girl that he might have a chance with? That’s not pathetic in a cute way, it’s just plain sad.) In addition to Nick, Cera also plays Francois Dillinger, the “bad boy” alter-ego that he creates in an attempt to get Sheeni to fall in love with him. What happens after that is predictable, and the story turns into a bland rendition of things we have seen before.

There are a few high points, however. First, I loved the random animation sequences. It was reminiscent of some of the great teen comedies of the 80s, like the movies of Savage Steve Holland. Also, Fred Willard steals the show every time he is on screen, and his show of “solidarity” in the film is both genuinely funny and creepy.

This movie didn’t affect me one way or another. It’s a pretentious attempt to be both funny and meaningful, yet I didn’t find myself laughing often, and I certainly found very little meaning. Dear Michael Cera, we get it. You do a good job of being awkward and adorable. Now do something different. Give me an entire movie where you play a character like Francois Dillinger. You don’t have to be serious, (After all, the alter-ego in this film was played with a bit of humor and irony.) you just need to do something new.

Final Grade: C