| Oct 03, 2008
(USA) Now here’s a piece of work to show that a teen comedy does not need to include gross anatomical jokes, farcical sex and ridiculously good-looking leads to be enjoyable. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a sweet, light-hearted celebration of adolescent love, good music and crazy friends played out in one madcap evening—thanks to great acting, a lush nightscape and funny lines.
The antithetical lover boy Michael Cera takes the lead as Nick, who is nursing a broken heart from a break-up with his trashy girlfriend Tris (a lovingly detestable Alexis Dziena). Egged on by his gay bandmates from a punk group called The Jerk-Offs, he pulls himself out of the door for a chance to catch their idol, a highly elusive and publicity shy band aptly named Where’s Fluffy? During the night, he meets the feisty Norah (Kat Dennings) and through a series of hilarious errors, they embark on a search party, a cautious courting session and a face-off with jealous exes, among many others.
With a indie rock soundtrack that features the likes of Devendra Banhart, Takka Takka and The Submarines pulsating through this nocturnal adventure, this exhilarating flick is well worth a second watch—that is, if you aren’t already motivated to go out and do some nighttime romping of your own. This year’s Juno is that good.