This week we're taking a look at the teen comedy, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (PG-13). During a crazy Manhattan night two high school kids fall for each other while resisting urges to get back together with their previous significant others. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings co-star as the title characters.
Andy: This movie is both formulaic and predictable. It does everything you’d expect a date movie to do, with the single twist that hit happens to be about teenagers. Perhaps the best thing Nick and Norah has going for it is that it treats it comes across as a little more understated than most movies aimed at teens, and that lends the movie a sense of credibility. Director Peter Sollett does a nice job of giving the movie and independent feel, which is needed to counterbalance the predictability of the plot.
Ryan: Although Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is a major studio release it has the look and feel of an indie flick. While it doesn't quite have the substance of a prototypical indie teen-driven movie, it does have more going for it than most other generic teen flicks that get cranked out of Hollywood. The strongest part of the film is seeing the two main characters gravitate towards each other. Some of the scenes are awkward and at first appear clumsy but in retrospect one sees that those scenes lend authenticity to the developing relationship. Consequently, Cera and Dennings play those scenes in a believable manner that adds a lot of charm to the picture.
Andy: Cera and Dennings were very good at making their interactions seem very real. Cera has carved out a nice niche for himself playing the young, awkward, wholesome hipster, and he does it charmingly here as well. I wonder when I’ll get tired of Cera playing the same role, but it hasn’t happened yet. If you like Cera’s chops, you’ll enjoy Dennings performance, as she plays it much in the same way. Having two characters that reluctant does make for some awkward, though realistic scenes.
Ryan: As already mentioned much of the film's success belongs to the two leads. While it appears that Cera is destined to alway play the same dorky character he certainly knows how to put forth a credible performance. His shtick should be getting old but at this point it isn't. While Dennings is relative new to the scene she has an air about her that seems genuine. Even though there are moments where she didn't display enough confidence on screen she nonetheless crafts a unique performance in a genre that thrives on stereotypical characterizations.
Andy: Much of the plot of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is driven by the search for their favorite indie-rock band, Where’s Fluffy? In a movie this indie-driven, it is important to have a soundtrack with indie-cred. Nick and Norah do pretty well in working in some good music that should please the hipsters (Band of Horses, Shout Out Louds), but I was actually a little disappointed with how some of it is used in the movie. The obligatory shots of cars traveling through the city set to rock songs are there, but they somehow don’t have the impact on the film that it seems like they could have.
Ryan: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist doesn't have any glaring weaknesses but some moviegoers might be put off by the fluffiness of the story. Yes, the film is more relevant than most teen flicks but it's restrained into really digging deep into contemporary teen angst. And from a setting standpoint it also paints a portrait of New York City night-life as a fairy tale where teenagers can harmlessly hang out at bars without any consequence. But like a good pop song, sometimes fluff is all that's needed to tell a good story. And Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is definitely that.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is not perfect, but it is as enjoyable as it is predictable, earning it a B.
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