Youth In Revolt is based on the book(also available on Audible) by C. D. Payne.  It is directed by Miguel Arteta (Homicide, Freaks & Geeks) with a screenplay by Gustin Nash (Charlie Bartlett).  It’s the story of Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), a geeky 16 year old who just wants to lose his virginity.  He’s stuck living with his mom (Jean Smart) and her boyfriend Jerry (Zach Galifianakis) in Oakland.  When Jerry runs into some problems they’re forced to go away for a little while.  This is where Nick meets the girl of his dreams, Sheeni (Portia Doubleday), whom he vows not to let get away.  This leads to the creation of an alter-ego named Francois Dillinger, who is a bad boy and does the things Nick could never do.

I didn’t have too high of an expectation for this movie.  I’d never read the books on which it’s based although I’d heard they were great.  So I wasn’t living and dying on it faithfully living up to what I’d imagined in my head.  That was probably a plus.  Even with my low expectations, I love Michael Cera and Zach Galifianakis so it had at least two things going for it in my mind.  But I was a little disappointed when it began with an easy masturbation joke.  However it quickly got a lot better.

The core of this movie is that it’s wildly wacky to a cartoonish level (in fact there are animated sequences) but it’s brought to earth in a realistic, gritty type style.  There’s some broad comedy stuff, but a lot of the laughs are from big doses of weirdness.  The whole movie has a sort of “off” quality to it, and that’s what makes it great.  Miguel Arteta did a great job directing this, and Nash did a great job on the script.  The dialogue is right on and the world that’s created is perfect.

Doubleday plays Sheeni

Of course a lot of this sort of film relies heavily on the acting and the myriad of great comedic actors here bring their A game.  First obviously Michael Cera as an awkward teen can’t really go wrong.  But more surprisingly is newcomer Portia Doubleday cast as Sheeni.  She’s absolutely perfect for the role.  She’s not hollywood out of proportion sex pot, she’s more normal girl and that’s just what was needed here.  Her performance is a wonderful balance to Cera’s as can be seen for a second here:

Rooney Mara is a face to watch

Other than those two you have seriously great performances by hardened veterans like Fred Willard, Steve Buschemi, Ray Liotta, and Justin Long.  These parts are mostly small but all are great.  I also enjoyed the small role by Ari Graynor as Nick’s dad’s girlfriend.  Graynor also played opposite Cera in Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.  Another very small but memorable role is played by up and comer Rooney Mara who hasn’t done anything of note yet, but is going to be starring in the Nightmare on Elm Street remake as well as the David Fincher/Aaron Sorkin collaboration The Social Network.

Overall I highly recommend checking this movie out.  And you can get your tickets by clicking the box below.