YOUTH IN REVOLT

YOUTH IN REVOLT

While watching Michael Cera's latest film "Youth in Revolt" I was immediately reminded of a couple of what I would call influences.

The first is of course Woody Allen's "Play it Again Sam" where he mentally conjures the spirit and coolness of Humphrey Bogart to act as his muse while courting a young lady deemed over his head.

The other influence is the episode of Seinfeld when George Costanza becomes the bad boy just to win the favor of one of Elaine's subordinates.

Cera is, of course, the perfect person to portray a man needing help. His retreating demeanor is what has him as an in-demand talent for teen angst films. No one at this time carries the tortured roll so well.

This time he is Nick Twisp whose mom Estelle (Jean Smart) makes interesting choices in men. Her current man Jerry (Zach Galifianakis) is a sloth of a creature who flaunts the fact he is nailing her in front of Nick. It is during this relationship and on the ensuing family vacation that Nick encounters whom he decides is hi dream girl - Sheeni (Portia Doubleday) a girl that is suitably way out of his league. Jerry soon meets his comeuppance, but the scenes are hilarious.

She later takes up with a cop (who delivered the news about Jerry) named Lance (Ray Liotta) who has his own moments of crudeness but is nevertheless a small step up from Jerry.

However, we must have the disparity for the film to work.

To try to win her over he decides to think out the box as it were, and create an alter ego named Francois Dillinger - at the suggestion of Sheeni. Dillinger is everything Nick isn't and possible more than Sheeni's current beau Trent (Jonathan Wright); Trent practically dares Nick to vie for Sheeni's affection.

Dillinger sends Nick into one destructive event after another in every effort to win the heart... and body... of Sheeni.

Thrown into the mix are Nick's estranged father (played by Steve Buscemi) and Sheeni's holier than thou parents perfectly portrayed by Mary Kay Place and M. Emmet Walsh.

But make no mistake, this is Cera's film. The rest of the strong cast is merely decoration.

That is not to diminish director Miguel Arteta who has a knack for comedy - his credits include Freaks and Geeks, Ugly Betty and The Office.

Cera carries over his persona from "Paper Heart" with a dash of his "Super Bad" and "Juno" characters to present a well crafted role. This assures we will see more of Cera (hopefully he'll avoid crap like "Year One") in what should be a long career. --GEOFFREY BURTON

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