NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST
RYAN: Michael Cera from “Superbad” and TV’s “Arrested Development” stars in the new teen comedy “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.”
CAROLINE: I was really excited for this movie because I love the cast, especially Kat Dennings who was so great as the daughter in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” But I’m a little disappointed in this.
RYAN: LBH, we’re not exactly the target audience ‘cuz it’s a high school movie; although “Superbad” was too and we loved that. But I think “Superbad” had a lot more adult themes and humor, and it had two older guys in it too, Bill Hader and Seth Rogen. This one is strictly high school, so I tried to think back to those days. There are definitely several funny moments.
CAROLINE: There were things I liked about it, but I found myself enjoying some scenes only because of the two stars. If it hadn’t been them in these roles, I don’t think I would have cared at all. It takes place over the course of one night and it’s about the downtown music scene in New York City, but I just wasn’t that riveted. I probably would have enjoyed it more ten years ago.
RYAN: I wasn’t riveted either, but the good moments are really good. Other times I was bored and not into it. I really liked some of the supporting characters, like the girl who plays Michael Cera’s ex-girlfriend.
CAROLINE: She is a twig; and by that, I mean a toothpick. We saw her earlier this year in “Fool’s Gold” and commented then on how tiny she is.
RYAN: She’s so cute though and she does a great job in this movie of playing a bitch. And you were all excited because a character in the movie has the same name as you.
CAROLINE: That was fun for me. She played a drunken wench, so I could totally relate. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I really liked the cast and thought they all worked well together; I just wish they were in a better movie. I thought it was cute that Michael Cera’s bandmates are gay but their friendship with him is still seamless. But it made me think, “Wow! Nobody in my high school was openly gay.”
RYAN: Well, welcome to the ’90s! No, seriously, I liked the gay portrayals. They were very realistic and I liked that their roles weren’t defined by being gay; they’re just teens who happen to be gay. There was also the grossest scene that’s ever involved a piece of gum in a movie.
CAROLINE: It’s reminiscent of “Trainspotting” and I’ll leave it at that. It was unnecessarily disgusting.
RYAN: The music is good since it’s a movie about the indie music scene. And the score itself is also quirky and interesting. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not.
CAROLINE: It’s not really my kind of music, but it didn’t bother me. I appreciated that the kids were on a quest to hear a band they love play a secret live show. I think anyone who’s ever really loved a band no matter what genre of music can relate to that. Bottom line?
RYAN: It’s not that great of a comedy; it’s more like a teen angst coming-of-age movie. And even though I like Michael Cera, I don’t think he’s hot enough that either of the two girls who are interested in him in the movie would be into him in real life. It’s a fair movie, but not great.
CAROLINE: I totally know what you mean because I kept looking at Michael Cera and thinking, “If I were eighteen, would I have a crush on him?”
RYAN: Hell no.
CAROLINE: Probably not. I do think Kat Dennings is the Molly Ringwald of this generation though. Overall, it’s a cute movie but I’m a little underwhelmed. The best thing about it is the cast. We can all relate to some of the high school scenarios, but it didn’t really bring me back to those years like some teen movies do. I’m sure this movie is targeting a younger crowd, which is fine; I’m just not going to recommend it for people of our generation.