Chattanooga Pulse

Michael Cera has become Hollywood’s go-to actor for movies involving lovelorn young men pining for the girl of their dreams.  With his liquid puppy-dog eyes in a face that seems to make women want to cuddle him and tell him everything will be all right, he is the type of actor who uses his physical looks to define a specific character.  Which is why what could easily have been another self-precocious indie-type romcom instead surprises by being one of the funnier films of the season.

Cera portrays a wimpy teen—the appropriately named Nick Twisp—who, in order to win the girl of his dreams (Portia Doubleday in a breakout role) must become a “bad boy” and break all the rules. What really makes the film click is one of better cast of supporting actors seen in a comedy in quite some time.  M. Emmett Walsh, Mary Kay Place, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Fred Willard, Justin Long and Jean Smart all add their own unique stamps on a crisply written and directed comedy that will leave audiences pleased.

And if there is any justice in the metroplex that has seen recent support of intelligent comedies, such as It’s Complicated, this film will also do well and hopefully open Cera up to more varied roles.  Yes, he’s very good at what he does, but one hopes to see him stretch and use his natural talents to explore some other aspects of the movie world.

Youth in Revolt
Starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Justin Longe, Ray Liotta, Jean Smart, Steve Buscemi
Director: Miguel Arteta
Rating: R