Review of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) by William E — 11 Aug 2010

Right off the bat you'd assume a movie with the term "playlist" in it would deliver a killer soundtrack, and that's exactly what Peter Sollett, and his crew deliver in this film adaptation of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's book which takes on a journey of what it is to be young, and looking for love in New York City. Our story centers around Nick, a bassist in a struggling, drummer less NYC band called "The Jerk-offs" of which he is the only heterosexual member, as well as its bassist. Norah our other central figure is a rich prep school girl whose father own a renowned NYC recording studio. She is having a hard time contemplating whether to follow her own dreams, or simply carry on the family business, making this decision even more difficult is her extreme love of music. Both Nick and Norah share a common enemy, but with any good story this is achieved through dramatic irony. We know who they are, but neither Nick and Norah realize the other knows.Nick is struggling to get over his ex Tris whom happens to be a frienemy of Norah's, Nick has made countless mixtapes for Tris and shes thrown them all out, however Norah has listened to every one of them and like what she hears. Strangely enough to two meet at Nick's show where Norah's BFF Caroline as once again gotten plastered, and is acting like an idiot. They find out that there favorite band Where's Fluffy are playing somewhere is NYC. One thing is for sure neither know where Fluffy is, and they intend to find out where they are, even if it takes all night.

Nick is played wonderfully by Micheal Cera (Superbad) and Norah is Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett)they perform their roles wonderfully, with an innocence that resonants throughout the movie, you can really feel like the two lead are connecting with one and other, aside from that the supporting cast wasn't bad either. Ari Graynor plays Caroline well in all her annoying bliss. Aaron Yoo, and Rafi Gavron plays Nick's bandmates Thom and Dev fairly well. All in all it wasn't Oscar-worthy acting, but it beats the pants off ost films like this. Sollett even managed to sneak in a cameo by enigmatic indie musician Devandra Banhart.

With this film you get what you pat for it has some good laughs a really good cast, and some things you wouldn't expect out of a film like this, oh and did I forget to mention the soundtrack absolutely kills? If I did then forgive me for doing so, because it definitely does. Hopefully people don't go into this expecting a fantastic character arc, and plot. For what it is it's brilliant take it for that, and you'll enjoy it, expecting it to change ones life and you'll be grossly disappointed.