Robin PottratzDespite some charm, "Nick and Norah" falls flat ** out of 4
October 29th 2008 18:45
"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" already suffers from the handicap of having one of the worst titles in recent memory. What also doesn't help is that it has some of the most irritating pseudo hipster dialogue since "Juno." The story, characters, and other elements are complete cliches which again serves to hurt the movie. What almost saves the movie is the charms of it actors, and by actors, I mean the female actors.
"Nick and Norah" starts out with some shots of an establishing shot of Nick (Michael Cera), an emo musician who was just dumped by his hottie girlfriend (Alexis Dziena) and now spends his days looking sad and making mix cds for her. We then meet Norah (Kat Dennings), an emo rich chick who also knows the hottie ex and listens to the mix cds that she throws away. They both hear that their favorite indie band named "Where's Fluffy" is playing somethere in NYC...and yes "Where's Fluffy" is the actual name of the band. Nick and his bandmates go to NYC for a gig and to search for "Fluffy," while Norah and her trainwreck friend (Ari Graynor) also venture in search of "Fluffy"...If you are not annoyed already then this might be the movie for you. The movie follows a pretty predictable formula, Nick's ex shows up, he ends up running away with Norah, they fall for each other...but there are just so many complications (ex-lovers, they have a fight, the drunk friend gets lost...etc). The film is very cliched, and there is even a scene where Nick and Norah have sex in a studio for roughly 6 seconds...which is apparently all it takes for Norah to have her first orgasm. Eventually, they all find "Fluffy" and they all live happily ever after.
Confession...I can't stand Michael Cera. I don't find his man-child, bumbling, "look how awkward I am" style of delivery charming in the slightest bit. Now, casting him in the part of a hoplessly romantic sensative musician is just strange. He isn't particularly attractive, or charming...he just looks uncomfortable. His Nick is basically a riff on the same character that he has played in "Arrested Development," "Superbad," and "Juno." With this movie, it would appear that his act is growing stale and that his sell by date is approaching sooner rather than later.
Some other strange occurances involving male actors include the fact that Nick's bandmates are all gay and have a very unfunny riff about what body part they should name their band after (such as the "Jerk Offs" or "A Fist Full of Assholes"). Also in this film is Jay Baruchel as Norah's on again boyfriend. Baruchel has done a variety of nice guy roles in films like "Million Dollar Baby," "Tropic Thunder," and "Knocked Up," so it is a shame to see him in a film where he plays a jerk. The character just doesn't suit him and Baruchel looks lost in the role.
Now, if I have found so many things to complain about in this movie, then why is it still getting ** from me instead of * or none. The most enjoyable parts of this film come in the form of the female actors. Another confession...I now have a crush on Kat Dennings. She is an unconventional beauty who is cool, charming, and whip smart. I see this movie as a potential launching pad for her and nothing would make me happier. Dennings is able to lift the films irritating emo and hipster dialogue into something bearible and even fun. When her Norah gets sad...you just want to hug her...and when she is happy, you just so happy for her. It is a charming and touching performance from a talented young actress.
Now for the real show stealer...Ari Graynor as Norah's drunk mess of a pal Caroline. What makes this performance so great is that Graynor is basically given a character stereotype and she is able to breathe life into it. She is hilarious, obnoxious, sad, and disgusting...often all at the same time. The only comedic tools that she is given is an overchewed piece of gum and her own lack of shame. Yes there are cheap and gross out laughs at her expense, like when her gum and cell phone fall into a recently vomited into toilet, or when she is drunkenly cast as a Christmas tree in a drag holiday show. There is one scene where she is begging a mute cook for a turkey sandwhich at a train station that is simultaniously hilarious and heartfelt. Couple what I have just decribed with the fact that she is a full blown hottie and Ari Graynor clearly has it all.
Dennings and Graynor aside, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" is a general yawner that will surely play to the teen wannabe emo set. First time writer Lorene Scafaria crafts a story that features one predictable turn after another (both the ex's are jerks, they have a fight and then they reunite...etc) and while director Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas) makes great use of the NYC rock club scene...his story just isn't that interesting and eventually the movie sags. The movie isn't without its charms (see Dennings and Graynor) but for "Nick and Norah" it appears that like an overused I-Pod, the battery eventually runs out of juice.
"Nick and Norah" starts out with some shots of an establishing shot of Nick (Michael Cera), an emo musician who was just dumped by his hottie girlfriend (Alexis Dziena) and now spends his days looking sad and making mix cds for her. We then meet Norah (Kat Dennings), an emo rich chick who also knows the hottie ex and listens to the mix cds that she throws away. They both hear that their favorite indie band named "Where's Fluffy" is playing somethere in NYC...and yes "Where's Fluffy" is the actual name of the band. Nick and his bandmates go to NYC for a gig and to search for "Fluffy," while Norah and her trainwreck friend (Ari Graynor) also venture in search of "Fluffy"...If you are not annoyed already then this might be the movie for you. The movie follows a pretty predictable formula, Nick's ex shows up, he ends up running away with Norah, they fall for each other...but there are just so many complications (ex-lovers, they have a fight, the drunk friend gets lost...etc). The film is very cliched, and there is even a scene where Nick and Norah have sex in a studio for roughly 6 seconds...which is apparently all it takes for Norah to have her first orgasm. Eventually, they all find "Fluffy" and they all live happily ever after.
Confession...I can't stand Michael Cera. I don't find his man-child, bumbling, "look how awkward I am" style of delivery charming in the slightest bit. Now, casting him in the part of a hoplessly romantic sensative musician is just strange. He isn't particularly attractive, or charming...he just looks uncomfortable. His Nick is basically a riff on the same character that he has played in "Arrested Development," "Superbad," and "Juno." With this movie, it would appear that his act is growing stale and that his sell by date is approaching sooner rather than later.
Some other strange occurances involving male actors include the fact that Nick's bandmates are all gay and have a very unfunny riff about what body part they should name their band after (such as the "Jerk Offs" or "A Fist Full of Assholes"). Also in this film is Jay Baruchel as Norah's on again boyfriend. Baruchel has done a variety of nice guy roles in films like "Million Dollar Baby," "Tropic Thunder," and "Knocked Up," so it is a shame to see him in a film where he plays a jerk. The character just doesn't suit him and Baruchel looks lost in the role.
Now, if I have found so many things to complain about in this movie, then why is it still getting ** from me instead of * or none. The most enjoyable parts of this film come in the form of the female actors. Another confession...I now have a crush on Kat Dennings. She is an unconventional beauty who is cool, charming, and whip smart. I see this movie as a potential launching pad for her and nothing would make me happier. Dennings is able to lift the films irritating emo and hipster dialogue into something bearible and even fun. When her Norah gets sad...you just want to hug her...and when she is happy, you just so happy for her. It is a charming and touching performance from a talented young actress.
Now for the real show stealer...Ari Graynor as Norah's drunk mess of a pal Caroline. What makes this performance so great is that Graynor is basically given a character stereotype and she is able to breathe life into it. She is hilarious, obnoxious, sad, and disgusting...often all at the same time. The only comedic tools that she is given is an overchewed piece of gum and her own lack of shame. Yes there are cheap and gross out laughs at her expense, like when her gum and cell phone fall into a recently vomited into toilet, or when she is drunkenly cast as a Christmas tree in a drag holiday show. There is one scene where she is begging a mute cook for a turkey sandwhich at a train station that is simultaniously hilarious and heartfelt. Couple what I have just decribed with the fact that she is a full blown hottie and Ari Graynor clearly has it all.
Dennings and Graynor aside, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" is a general yawner that will surely play to the teen wannabe emo set. First time writer Lorene Scafaria crafts a story that features one predictable turn after another (both the ex's are jerks, they have a fight and then they reunite...etc) and while director Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas) makes great use of the NYC rock club scene...his story just isn't that interesting and eventually the movie sags. The movie isn't without its charms (see Dennings and Graynor) but for "Nick and Norah" it appears that like an overused I-Pod, the battery eventually runs out of juice.
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