REVIEW: Youth in Revolt (2010)
Youth in Revolt
Rated: R
Starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday.
Runtime: 90 minutes.
My Rating: 3.5 stars.
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Michael Cera in a coming-of-age sex comedy? Big shocker. But what Youth In Revolt lacks in original concept, it makes up for with superior, clean , witty dialog and Cera's now-famous quirky charm.
Cera plays Nick Twisp, a pathetic, socially inept virgin. He doesn't really pursue girls so much as fantasize about them with his best friend Lefty (Erik Knudsen). Both want to lose their virginity before they die.
That sounds like the set-up to Superbad. Where it turns is when Twisp meets Sheeni (Portia Doubleday) while on a summer getaway with his mother and her boyfriend Jerry (Zach Galifianakis).
Sheeni, of course, needs only to smirk for Twisp to fall in love. He even says he loves her early in their courtship. She replies, “Well, your hormones certainly do.”
Inevitably their summer together must end, and Twisp has to find a way to get back to Sheeni.
Through a series of pitifully disguised plot-advancing events, Twisp has to create a supplementary persona to be kicked out of his house and back to Sheeni. “Francois” is what he comes up with.
He's a smooth-talking badass – a far stretch from the typical Cera role – who helps Twisp fight his way to Sheeni.
Once everything is finally established, albeit in a painstaking slow manner, Youth in Revolt takes off in the seasoned hands of Cera and surprisingly good Doubleday.
Twisp is doing what every high school teenage boy wishes he could. He creates someone else – the voice in our heads that says, “Do this, and you'll get the girl.” It comes to life, speaks for Twisp and, unavoidably, gets Twisp into more trouble than either know how to handle.
Then there's Sheeni. She is that girl just out of your league. You know the one. She's just pretty enough to make you chase her, and she knows and loves it. She's the girl who you only get one shot at and, if you blow it, will be talking about for years. Every guy has one. Twisp doesn't want that to happen.
Cera and Doubleday take these characters as far as they can go, but the accolades go to Cera here. He strays from his typical awkward teenage shy guy to a suave and oddly convincing young man. We believe in Francois instead of thinking that Cera is trying too hard to sell it.
Doubleday doesn't have to do much more than be believably coy, which she pulls off beautifully. Sheeni likes Twisp, but won't admit it.
The other characters, including those played by Steve Buscemi (the dad), Fred Willard (the neighbor), and Ray Liotta (the cop) can come or go. They have minor impact on the film's soul. It was a disappointment to see these talents mostly wasted.
Even Justin Long makes an unnecessary appearance as Paul, Sheeni's older brother. These characters will wash away mere moments after the credits role.
But this film was Cera and Doubleday's to make or break. They succeed in taking a decidedly average story and making it a charming teen sex comedy. Yes, I said charming teen sex comedy. They do exist. 3.5 stars.
