Review: Youth in Revolt
The Pitch: Michael Cera and his super bad imaginary friend.
The Review: Some actors seem to be able to inhabit a wild variety of characters, looking outwardly the same each time but able to change voice, behavioural characteristics and appearance to disappear seamlessly into a role. And then there’s Michael Cera.
Practically a poster boy for mumbling, awkward teens, Cera has the schtick honed to a tee, but in every major movie he’s been in, it’s been the same every time. So there’s no real surprises here when his character is the same kind of frustrated loser that he’s portrayed in everything from Superbad onwards.
So it’s fun to see him cut loose here with a second character, Francois, who gives him a chance to stretch a little. It’s basically the same character with the morals stripped away, and it allows him to have some fun, both with and in the role.
The story is a sort of Junior Fight Club with more flirting than fighting, but it doesn’t always follow the predictable path, and there are a few excellent set pieces. Justin Long sets up a couple of those, and gets to have most fun with his support role. There are some slightly out of place animated interludes that don’t gel as well as they might have, but overall this is a fun ride, worth taking either side of your personality to.
Why see it at the cinema: There are some laugh out loud funny set pieces, so see them in a crowd – you’ll enjoy them more.
The Score: 7/10
The Movie Evangelist 