TEENAGE rebellion is brought to the screen this week in the unorthodox comedy Youth In Revolt.
Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) leads an unfulfilling life listening to Frank Sinatra while yearning for the day he will finally get the girl.
After an impromptu vacation with his promiscuous mother and her failure boyfriend, the lusty teen finds love with local girl Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday).
But the only way to spend time with her is if Nick becomes a teenage delinquent and is sent to live with his father - step in his supplemental persona Francois Dillinger: a no nonsense badboy with no respect for the rules.
Arson, theft and destruction ensue, but will Nick get the girl?
No stranger to comedy
Director Miguel Arteta may have limited experience in features, but with an eclectic CV of top US TV shows including Freaks & Geeks, Six Feet Under and The Office to his name; he is no stranger to comic fare.
Throwing out casual witt alongside larger more visually funny moments, the result is an enjoyable journey through adolescent eyes.
Unfortunately, the relatively brief 90 minute runtime drags as the paint-by-numbers approach to making an off-beat movie is adopted.
'Indie'-aware
Eccentric characters, a folksy soundtrack and cut-aways to various animated moments wallow in their own outré narrative while checking off the clichéd components of the quintessential off-beat adventure.
Youth in Revolt relies on the gaggle of celebrity cameos, but all are criminally underused.
Stalwart Steve Buscemi, Justin Long and The Hangover’s Zack Galifianakis all shine in their brief appearances, but are not given the chance to add their particular impact on the film.
But this is Michael Cera’s film - and he fails to disappoint.
Playing the gawky, lanky and articulate shyboy may not be a stretch (a characterisation any Cera fan will recognise from all his films), but once the alter-ego Francois is unleashed he is given a chance to showcase another side with just as much - if not more - comic level.
Youth in Revolt may fall victim to it’s own indie quirkiness, but with enough amusing twists and an amiable lead it still remains an above average comedy.
6/10 - Uncouth youth.