Review: Youth In Revolt

Feb 5 2010 The Journal

Running time: 1hr 29mins
Certificate: 15
Starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday
Director: Miguel Arteta
Star rating: 3

“IN the movies, the good guy gets the girl,” ruefully confides the socially awkward hero of this film, adding that, in real life, the girl usually walks off into the sunset with a jerk.

Sure enough, the shy teenager in this quirky romantic comedy, based on the novel Youth In Revolt: The Journals Of Nick Twisp by CD Payne, stands little chance of getting any girl, least of all the blonde of his dreams.

So he summons his imaginary, French alter ego – as you do – whose presence provides courage.

In the wake of a slew of offbeat teen comedies, such as Juno, it is becoming increasingly difficult for portraits of sexual awakening to stand out from the crowd. Even more since many of them star Michael Cera as the underdog hero. His performances are virtually identical and familiarity is slowly breeding boredom, if not discontent.

Thankfully, the dramatic device of an invisible confidant (Francois Dillinger) for Nick (Cera) sets this film apart. When Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday) sweeps into Nick’s life, he resolves she’s the woman for him and alter ego (Cera again), says things Nick wouldn’t dare. Cera plays another loveable loser, hoping to defy the odds, and Doubleday makes a fine teen vamp.

There’s no directorial brio to energise the film so it relies on the performances and script to keep us laughing in the dark.