Release Date (UK) – 5 February
Certificate (UK) – 15
Country – USA
Director – Miguel Arteta
Runtime – 90 mins
Starring – Michael Cera, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta
Michael Cera is most known for his role in Superbad and although this film is still a teen comedy it’s an untypical one that has gone under the radar in terms of film marketing for some strange reason, with a very limited cinema release. However if you can get to a multiplex with enough screens that ones showing it then I definitely recommend it. Cera plays Nick Twisp, the geeky virgin American teen cliché who meets the girl of his dreams Sheeni (Portia Doubleday) but she lives far away from him and is controlled by her strictly religious family. In order to see her again she encourages Nick to ‘turn bad’ so he is chucked out of his mother’s home and sent to live with his father (Buscemi) to be nearer her. In order to turn from righteous teen to tearaway Nick forms his alter ego, Francois Dillinger and its in these scenes as Nick and Francois battler out their choices where the film comes into itself rather than following the standard teen romance conventions.
With a slow start Youth in Revolt simply seems to be this years Adventureland but it gets much smoother and funnier as soon as we get to know Nick better the jokes improve immensely. His alter ego is called Francois as Sheeni is obsessed with all things French, in particular French New Wave icon Jean Paul Belmendo and the Dillinger is presumably a reference to iconic American robber John Dillinger. Cera plays the suave, chain smoking and assertive Francois perfectly with the right amount of charm and bad ass and its great to see him expand from the geeky teen stereotype. Ray Liotta stars as one of his mothers numerous boyfriends, a cop who only has a small part but some funny scenes. Steve Buscemi gets a bit more screen time than Liotta and is just as funny but the most remarkable other comedic performance comes from Justin Long. Long plays Sheeni’s laid back older brother Paul, who spends his days getting hammered on various drugs and in one scene gives his church loving parent’s magic mushrooms with hilarious consequences.
Another thing that sets Youth in Revolt apart from the standard American teen flick is the films occasional use of animation. With a simailar feel to British comedy Bunny and the Bull the film will suddenly breakway into animations of the characters, usually on car journeys so without dialogue. The animations are well done and fit well with the slightly surreal alter ego theme and some of the ridiculous quirky plot directions. Youth in Revolt is a must watch for any fans of teen comedies but also surprisingly enjoyable for anyone who likes more abstract and intellectual comedies. Trailer Below
