“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (2008)
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, a teen comedy/romance based on the YA novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, is utterly charming, if not that original. I was reminded of Better Off Dead and Adventures in Babysitting, both of which I loved when I was in high school. I imagine this is the example of those movies for this generation.
Michael Cera is adorable as Nick, pining for his skanky ex-girlfriend Tris.
I never wash my pants. I like to keep the night on them.
Kat Dennings is not quite believable as the doesn’t-know-she’s gorgeous Norah. Ari Graynor is hilariously innappropriate as the drunk friend.
Is that a turkey sandwich?
Cera’s gay bandmates are a nice, modern touch. And there are great cameos by John Cho, Andy Samberg, Seth Myers, and Devendra Banhart. This isn’t rocket science but I found it funny, sweet and involving.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Uh oh. We watched this one recently (Tony reviewed it over at our site), and pretty much cringed the whole way through it. I agree with you that Kat Dennings was less than convincing in her role, but I think the only person’s performance I enjoyed in this was the Asian friend in Nick’s band. I thought the movie was painfully emo and annoying, and also kind of confused. I guess this next part involves spoilers, but why is there the scene near the very end where Norah is considering going along with her friend-with-benefit YET AGAIN, even though in the preceding scene she had just been very, ahem, intimate, with Nick? Would there really be a dilemma at that point?
When we finished the movie, I was really irritated, and I won’t lie: I liked Michael Cera a little bit less for having been a part of it!
March 19th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I also was annoyed by her wavering at that point, but chalked it up to low self esteem, esp. as the FoB was such a loser. I didn’t go in expecting much, and wasn’t disappointed. Hardly a ringing endorsement, but I can see not liking this movie if I’d seen it in a more critical mood.
I liked Michael Cera a little more for being in it, though!
March 20th, 2009 at 9:24 am
i’m with steph. this movie wanted to be another Juno but it never got there for me. too juvenile for me. although michael cera is quite nice in it.