Review of Youth in Revolt (2009) by Shawn B — 21 Nov 2010

Did you ever meet somebody so special that you would totally change yourself in order to seem more attractive to them? Only to later find out that they were pretty attracted to the original you? Well if thats happened to you or you know somebody who has recently went through the same thing, or you just think that it seems like a good story, then this movie is so for you.

Michael Cera has once again done it! And by "it" I mean he rocked this movie like the amazing actor that he is. He has officially made it into my All-Time Top Actor List. Let me say it was no small feat getting in here, he now ranks amongst the best of the best.

Youth In Revolt was written by Gustan Nash for the screen, taken from the novel of the same name by C.D. Payne. From what I've read, the movie barely scratches the surface of the novel, but manages to include a whole heck of a lot of it in the barely 90 minute flick.

Directed by veteran Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl), Michael Cera plays Nick Twisp, a teenager struggling to get through life, as most of us have also done. His parents are divoriced and his Mom, played by Jean Smart is dating Jerry, an overnight truck driver played excellectly by Zach Galifianakis.

His Dad is played by legend Steve Buscemi and has just starting dating a 25 year old while going thru a sort of mid-life crisis. This doesn't leave Nick with a lot of options, and as if that wasn't enough, he's desparate to meet the woman of his dreams.

Fortunately for him, Jerry makes some people mad and he takes Nick and his Mom away to a trailer park in Souther California. Low and behold, while there, he does in fact meet the woman of his dreams! Sheeni is played by the beautiful newcomer Portia Doubleday, though she hardly seems like a newcomer.

She is the daughter of two very religion parents who want the best for her, even if it means that she cannot enjoy her life as a teenager. She is also the sister to Paul, played perfectly by the always amazing Justin Long.

Supposedly she is already involved with a guy named Trent, but she is taken aback by Nick and his quarky ways. Soon she falls for him, but admits she has always pictured herself with a suave French bad-ass.

To combat this, Nick invents an alter-ego of himself named Francois Dillinger. Francois wears tight pants, sunglasses and smokes, and does his best to try to get Nick his Sheeni, even if that means getting him to do some things he normally wouldn't.

Like blowing up the recently deseased Jerry's car and camper and a downtown Oakland coffee shop! Eventually, all the things Nick has been doing, catches up with him and he is forced to face the music.

Fred Willard and Adhir Kalyan (Fired Up and TV show Rules Of Engagment) have very memorable roles here, as well as the rest of the cast, and they all showed up too, in a big, big way. I don't know what took me so long to finally get around to watching this flick, but I am so glad I did.

I think everybody wants love and acceptance, but some are afraid to just be themselves. Sometimes thats the only way to do it ... Do yourself a favor and experience Michael Cera at his best.