Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is in many ways similar to other high school party movies and at the same time very different. Like other high school movies, this movie features breakups, hookups, partying, and well…high school. To be honest, this isn’t quite a ‘party’ movie in the vein of ‘Superbad‘. Rather it is more like a romantic comedy with high school students like so many 80s films that have paved the way before it. There are some pretty good laughs throughout, although most of the movie seems pretty tame as far as the raunchiness factor goes. On one hand, the more mellow humor in this film is a refreshing change and it really helps to learn more about the characters, who are all pretty well written. Many of the themes in the film help to push the envelope beyond that of a simple high school romantic comedy.
The story follows Nick (played by Michael Cera) and his queer core (gay punk) band as they try to find the location of the band “Where’s Fluffy?”. Nick happens to be the only straight member of the band and it is hilarious to listen to some of the romantic advice given out from his gay band members perspectives. On their quest to find ‘Fluffy’ they meet up with Nora (Kat Dennings) and her intoxicated friend Caroline, who are also on the hunt for the elusive band. That is pretty much the entire story in a nutshell without giving too much away.
Perhaps what I most liked about this movie is the fact that the settings and the characters were so unique. For starters, Nick’s band mates are excellent. The way the majority of the movie takes place with them cruising New York’s underground punk scene is also a definite plus. Regardless of whether you are a fan of punk music (which you definitely do NOT have to be to enjoy this film), just seeing them go from location to location really conveys the excitement and energy of being a teen enjoying the big city night life. The movie does an excellent job of taking the audience along for the ride.
The entire cast is great. For a while I viewed Michael Cera as a great sidekick, but not too much else. This movie really changed my view of him, and he is definitely one of the most hilarious up and coming young actors around right now. Kat Dennings is equally good as Norah. She manages to combine good looks with a sharp intellect that makes her even more attractive. Nothing like a pretty girl who can spit one liners with the best of them. As previously mentioned, Nick’s band mates are also great. Even though they are all gay, their sexuality doesn’t seem so forced upon the audience like in many other movies. It is more just an aspect of these characters instead of being what defines them, which I thought was handled superbly.
Anyone looking for some good laughs from a romantic comedy should check this movie out. It offers a fresh take on a genre that has been done many times before and the end result is a highly enjoyable film for all types of moviegoers with minimal offensive humor. Not to say the movie doesn’t have a few gross laughs thrown in, but for the most part it is a smart and well written movie with genuinely good vibes throughout.
Another film I completely missed. Thanks for the great review. Need to catch this one.
Interesting. I wanted to see this anyway, but glad to hear I have some good watching coming my way when I finally get around to it.
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I like how the characters are written. There’s a lot of times that dialogue in movies really don’t reflect how real people talk. The characters talk and interact like real people. Movies don’t have to be written this way, especially for movies that require you to suspend your beliefs. For this type of movie, it’s a plus. I like Dennings for the same exact reason given and I’ve always thought that Cera has that nice-guy, dorky charisma to him…
I have been wanting to see this. It got a good review in Newsweek. Gotta finish Suspiria and The Vanishing first though. :)
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this was not even shown here in the philippines. wish we could get the dvd though.
thanks for the review.
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Great DVD. I watched it the other night and I wasn’t disappointed.
Hey Trench!
Happy Valentine’s! :)
Dude, that gum was disgusting! LOL and the toilet bowl scene? whoa!
@ Eva Mendes- I loved you in Training Day!!!!
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Here’s the part that makes the wanna stop in my tracks right off the bat … “happens to be the only straight character”… It’s like Tom Cruise in Last Samurai… he happens to be the only white Samurai. Can you say Token? LOL I suppose in this day and age, we’re just not ready for the entire band to be gay.
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lol. Surprisingly, the gay band was actually not so gay. I was telling my wife while we were watching it, that I would hang out with them. Fun guys.. haha.
@Ayprel- I hear what you’re saying, but it didn’t really matter in this movie. The focus wasn’t the band’s sexuality, more like how everyone just got along and hung out together. I’m with Trench- the band was super cool.
I liked this movie too! But I’m starting to see a pattern in Michael Cera’s roles. He’s been playing the same character in the three movies I’ve seen him in and I hate to see him turn into a genre actor. Kat Dennings needs to give some boob love to other females cause those are freakin huge. Sorry, went guy there for a minute.
Kat is super hot. Thats all I got to say about that. I would have broke the equipment in the recording studio with her!!! haha
I’m with you guys on that. I thought she was way hotter than the ex. Plus the studio scene- I would’ve at least laid down a couple remixes before splitting.
good flik. i really enjoyed it, considering its been a decade since hs, i can relate to as well as compare how some situations are very similar, but very different—-ny seems like a hell of a place and the movie displays alot of different scenes to give that sense of awe, to those, myself anyway who will prolly never experience “the big apple”. im also glad that it wasnt all cocka-mamy poopoo humor, vulgar bs, that seems to be the trend…. though the whole gum thing stuck with me the whole time..bleh…soundtrack rocked…two thumbs up.