Going into Youth in Revolt, I really didn’t have much knowledge about it.  I knew that it was based on a book of the same name.  I knew that there was a pretty big following and excitement for the movie was growing daily. I knew that the cast bench was deep and they were all well known in their own right.  But beyond that, I was in the dark.  Sometimes that’s the best way to see a movie I think.  As the lights dimmed and the movie started, I settled in wondering how it was all going to turn out.

Michael Cera plays Nick Twisp.  An awkward 16 year old who is stuck in a broken dysfunctional home.  Estelle, his mom (played by Jean Smart)is unemployed, dependent on the child support checks she collects from Nick’s dad George (Steve Buscemi).  Estelle mainly focuses her attention on her truck driver boyfriend Jerry (Zach Galifianakis), who doesn’t really want anything to do with Nick, and George is mainly focused on his girlfriend, who isn’t much older than Nick himself.

A botched deal of Jerry’s leads him to flee town for a week with Estelle and Nick in tow.  Taking refuge in a trailer park, Nick meets the girl of his dreams, Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday).  Sheeni is everything Nick wants.  She’s smart, insightful and ambitious.  She also has a boyfriend.  Nick, knowing he must do what it takes to win Sheeni over, develops an alter ego, Francois Dillinger.  Francois is all of the things that Nick isn’t.  He’s daring and willing to do the things that Nick won’t.  Suffice it to say, Francois gets Nick into heaps of trouble, all to win the heart of Sheeni.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I won’t go into any more detail than I already have. Let’s run down the details of the film.

The Cast:
As I mentioned, the cast bench for this was pretty deep.  Not only were the above mentioned in it, but Justin Long, Fred Willard, Ray Liotta, M. Emmet Walsh and Mary Kay Place were all in it as well.  Most of the characters were bit parts next to Nick and Sheeni. I actually expected to see more of Zach Galifianakis since I felt they hyped him up in the trailers.

Michael Cera is great at playing the awkward teen boy type, but the problem in that, is that all of his roles will start to resemble one another.  I would really like to seem him play against type just to see what would happen.  Don’t get me wrong, I like him, I just want something different on occasion.  Seeing him play Francois was a bit of a change, but you could still feel that Cera-esque quality.

Portia Doubleday did a good job with Sheeni as well.  She came off older than her age, which was in line with the character and was able to navigate Sheeni’s dialogue easily.  She approached what I can only describe as a blasé calmness.

The rest of the cast were well placed, but I would have liked to have seen more.  I felt Zach Galifianakis was under used and I would have also liked to see more of Steve Buscemi.

The Film:
The film was well paced.  It didn’t feel too long or too short and at no time was I looking at my watch wishing it would end.  There is enough going on to keep it interesting, but not too much to be overbearing.

The comedy is abundant as well.  Given, some of the laughs are out of discomfort, but it’s funny none the less and since everyone else was laughing, I didn’t feel like I was the only one with a warped sense of humor.

The film was inter-cut with bits of animation as well which took me by surprise.  One part utilized clay-mation, while another part reminded me more of the opening credits to Juno.  It was an interesting mix and a fun way to break up the film.

The one thing I can say is I felt like I got a different package than what the trailer suggested.  Mind you, I’m not disappointed at all.  I was expecting some raunchy teen comedy, and in some aspects that is what I got.  But the film was much more endearing than I had expected and while it may fall flat with some, I found it to be a fun way to spend 90 minutes.

Youth in Revolt is directed by Miguel Arteta and will be released in the UK on February 5th.

It’s a whole new year so why not celebrate with a brand new red brand trailer for one of the movies we’re looking forward to seeing. Michael Cera’s new movie, Youth in Revolt is released 5th February and this new red band trailer gives us a better look at Cera doing what he does best…. making us laugh with his usual craziness!

Youth in Revolt also stars Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart, Mary Kay Plac and is directed by Miguel Arteta.

Synopsis: Youth in Revolt is a tale of love, drama, and comedy. Twisp sees everyone around him in relationships and more importantly making love. He meets Sheeni and through many failed attempts at seducing her, decides that he must create an alternate persona for himself that can do and be all the things that he can’t. This new persona is older, contemptuous of authority, and irresistible to women. Youth in Revolt seems to continue Cera’s comedic style of awkward situations and quick witted commentary.

You can check out the new trailer below.

It seems to me that as a kid one was able to see a red band trailer preceding an R rated film in the theater.  Now a days they relegated to the Internet, which is kind of a shame I think but at least there is still a place to see them.

Funny or Die has the latest red band trailer for Michael Cera’s new film, Youth in Revolt.  The film centers on 16 year old Nick Twisp who, when vacationing with his parents, meets Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday).  After taking a liking to Sheeni, Nick find out she has a boyfriend and creates a bad boy type alter ego named Francois.  Hilarity and chaos ensue, and Nick gets more than he bargained for thanks to Francois.

Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think.

The ubiquitous Michael Cera is a Youth in Revolt, and having charmed 94% of the planet with his perpetual teenage geekery and now it looks as though the other 6% will have their chance, as the trailer for her next film Youth in Revolt is launched.

The cast for Youth in Revolt is an impressive, if male dominated, one, with Cera teaming up with Justin Long and Zach Galifianakis with veteran support from Steve Buscemi and Ray Liotta. The story has Cera as Nick Twisp falling in distant love with a supposedly unobtainable girl and you can guess the rest, but the source material is well regarded and if Director Miguel Arteta can capture the whistful, random essence of C. D. Payne’s novels then we’re in for a treat. Check out the trailer below.

The film will be released in early 2010.

Youth in Revolt Trailer #2

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