A storm is coming. The critical and commercial success of 2007’s “Juno” has indicated that America is ready for the awkward teen comedy. It was only a matter of time before Hollywood decided to capitalize on this. Unfortunately, as has been true time and time again, Hollywood will fail to repeat that success and instead deliver unto us disappointing copycats. “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is the first of many. Get ready to be underwhelmed.
“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” based on the novel of the same name, follows the story of Nick (Michael Cera), your garden-variety emo teen rocker pining after his ex-girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena).
We also meet Norah (Kat Dennings), a sensitive but shy girl who likes good music and takes care of her drunk friends instead of drinking herself. No surprises there.
It seems that Nick is playing a gig with his band the Jerk-Offs, and Norah just so happens to be attending the show with her best friend Caroline (Ari Graynor). Norah and Tris clash at the club, which prompts the former to recruit Nick as her five-minute boyfriend.
What follows are some pretty standard hijinks, a few total gross-out moments and life lessons taken from the music of the Beatles. Set that against the backdrop of the indie-rock scene of New York City and you’ve got yourself a pretty mediocre film.
It’s a shame the movie doesn’t work better. Cera and Dennings are quite talented, and they’ve got on-screen chemistry uncommon in actors so young. Their interactions are probably the funniest and most genuine in the entire film.
Unfortunately, things are hampered by hokey dialogue, one-dimensional characters and long stretches of unfunny drivel spread generously throughout the film.
Dziena’s character is your tried-and-true teen comedy villainess, the popular girl that uses sex as a weapon. Graynor does pretty well in her portrayal of a wild drunken party girl, but honestly, such a performance could be easily replicated by leaving an unclaimed bottle of Grey Goose on the table at a house party.
“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” had some real potential, but it falls short in all the places that “Juno” excelled. The writing is weak, the dialogue is boring and the supporting performances are utterly unimpressive.
However, it’s hard to say you shouldn’t see it. The movie has its laugh-out-loud, hilarious moments in the midst of the boring stretches, and those really are worth seeing. If the previews really appeal to you, then go ahead and see it. If you’re on the fence, this movie probably won’t win you over.
