Nick, strives to balance out his budding sexual urges while remaining an intellectual teenager in a world of moronic adults…

Directed by Miguel Arteta

Starring Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart, Mary Kay Place, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Long, Ray Liotta, & Steve Buscemi

This film is “Awkwardly Lovable.”  Looking at the quote above, which quickly summarizes the C.D. Payne book series which this film is adapted from, I would add that everyone in the film has a slightly hit of being moronic, just others have the mask of intellect and alot of foreign references from the past to hide their issues, but that's what makes this movie so lovable.  This film is about the youth that have appreciation for foreign films, the French language, and any ambiguities of the past that convey a sense of class, but instead of the 1950s youth that were living near cafes in France or the present-day hipsters living it out in NYC, these teens are stuck in middle America.

The movies is about Nick Twisp, an only child that is mixed up between divorce parents and having to live with his screwed up mother and her current bum boyfriend played by Zach Galifianakis.  After his mom’s deadbeat boyfriend gets in issues with a bunch of disgruntle sailors, they choose to go on a trip to a cabin on the lake to hide out for the weekend.  While there Nick meets Sheeni, which is a young girl with the same appreciation to intellectual references as he does.  Before that weekend Nick was a miserable adolescent, now he has a mission and that to be reconciled with Sheeni again.  With some help of his mischievous alter ego, Francois Dillinger, he is causing havoc in his and his mom’s life so he will be forced out to live with his father which was conveniently relocated near Sheeni.

Who would like this film? If you tend not to be able to spend a week without referencing a Fellini film to your friends, or you use Godard as an adjective to describe films you watch, this movie is for you.  If you prefer the word “film” over “movie” this movie film is for you.  Personally it takes some time till the movies grows its legs, its not until Nick’s alter ego Francois comes into play the film gets exciting, at that point I believe anyone can enjoy it, but the first 30 minutes is only enjoyable to the people I mentioned above, haha nice.

Casting: I got to mention I am usually iffy with Michael Cera, it wasn’t until “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist” that I regained any confidence in him, and if this film only had the Nick Twisp character without his alter ego this would end up being another fail.  But I think Cera was the best pick for this film and he pulled it off greatly with his patented off timing humor.  Sheeni played by Portia Doubleday is someone I will definitely have my eye on, my instincts want to compare her to a young Natasha Lyonne.  As for the rest of the cast you got some real big names, Ray Liotta, Steve Buscemi, Justin Long and Zach Galianakis.  I sort of feel that these guys might have been under utilized, but there present was still great, especially any Justin Long cameo where he tends to be some crazy stoned out random dude is always a great addition.

Last thoughts: I always wondered how you can recreate a film with the love of old films but within the structure of today’s America.  I would say this film probably has taken a good stab, with nicely being direct with their ambitions and pointing fun at it.

Youth in Revolt (Amazon) - Trailer