Review: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Jeremy:

‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ is one of those quirky, cute comedies that comes out once a year and wins over the hearts of all types of film goers. It is a far above average romantic comedy about wandering souls and the fate that brings them together, yet it feels more realistic than most other romantic comedies that have come out before it.

Based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, the film follows two high-schoolers and their one-night adventure through the world of indie music in New York City. Michael Cera plays Nick, an all-heart guitarist who pine over his ex-girlfriend, Tris. He sends her mix CDs full of heartache that carry titles like ‘The Road to Closure: Vol. 12’ and hopes that, one day, she will come running back to him. Little does Nick know that Tris is bored by him and throws his CDs in the garbage. Norah, played by Kat Dennings, is the girl who fishes Nick’s CDs out of the trash. Without meeting him, she has fallen in love with him just through the music he chooses and the poetry he writes on the cases.

The two have very little in common save for their taste in music, but one night they meet at one of Nick’s shows. This begins their adventure through the streets of Manhattan attempting to find a secret performance by Where’s Fluffy, a fictional indie band, and Norah’s friend, Caroline, who is drunkenly wandering through the city. This one sleepless night stands in the way of the true happiness awaiting Nick and Norah on the other side.

‘Nick and Norah’ is every bit as endearing a film as something like ‘Juno’ or ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. This sub-genre of eccentric comedies is plowing away like a freight train. For the most part, these films are fun at first, but end up wearing on your nerves after a while. For all of its cuteness and originality, ‘Juno’ slowly pushed itself over the unconventional edge into self-mockery. This more than likely occurred due to the film’s lack of realness. It felt sincere only a handful of times.

‘Nick and Norah’ is a romantic comedy that is grounded in reality through and through. It feels effortlessly made by screenwriter Lorene Scafaria (‘The Nines’) and director Peter Sollett (‘Raising Victor Vargas’). One particular little instance near the beginning launches this effortless, yet real-life, feel to the film. Nick is burning his latest CD for Tris. He is using iTunes, and the sound his computer makes when it finishes the burn is the actual sound iTunes makes when it finishes burning a CD. It is a very small detail, but it’s effective. Most times in movies, people computers or video games make noises that are found nowhere in those devices. It’s a pointless detail to mask, but, for some reason, it has become commonplace.

Likewise are the characters in ‘Nick and Norah’. The people in this film speak and act like real people would in this situation. Nick’s best friends and fellow band members are two, gay men. However, these are not the typical “gay friends” we find in most romantic comedies in today’s Hollywood. The flamboyant, over-the-top gay character has become as cliched in comedies as the prat fall, and it has become excessively annoying. The gay characters in ‘Nick and Norah’ feel like real people, because they act like real people.

Cera and Dennings are adorable as the titular characters. Cera is becoming more and more this generations John Cusack, that of the lovelorn geek who is more than deserving of happiness. Dennings is equally sweet without any apparent attempt at doing so. The two just work well together, and their scenes together could have gone on much longer without any complaint.

Flawlessly endearing and realistically played out, ‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ is one of the best romantic comedies in recent memory. It is ‘Before Sunrise’ for the eccentric comedy crowd. It is funny and uplifting at the same time, and it harkens back to the very best of the ’80s comedies by John Hughes or Savage Steve Holland. Add to that a great soundtrack and ‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ is a definite must-see.

[rating:4.5/5]

Travis:

‘Nick and Norah’ surprised me and ended up being about as good as the soundtrack, which I’d already fell in love with before I’d even seen the film. So, let’s start there… the soundtrack includes: Vampire Weekend, We Are Scientists, Chris Bell, Bishop Allen, Takka Takka, The Dead 60s and more! Good stuff!

Michael Cera (Juno) plays Michael Cera… I mean, he plays Nick, a scrawny high-pitched teenage boy who doesn’t have the best of luck with the ladies. He’s “still” recovering from a break-up with ex-girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena) who had the nerve to cut him lose on his B-Day! After countless days secluding himself within the comfortably numbing confines of his bedroom cutting multiple volumes of mix CD’s titled “The Road to Closure” his two gay friends and band-mates stop by and force him to get out and perform a gig they setup. Nick wants no part of this until they find out his favorite band will be performing a rare surprise set somewhere in the city. The EMO-punk trio set out on the town, but things get tricky after their set on stage when Nick finds Tris has shown up.

Fast forward just a bit… Kat Dennings (Down in the Valley) plays Norah, son of a famous record producer and not the best with the guys. Norah and her outrageously drunk best friend Caroline (Ari Graynor) are taking in the show and when her nemesis Tris sees her there, they begin to spit daggers at one another. In a desperate attempt to save face, Norah asks Nick (a total stranger) to play her boyfriend. Little does Norah know that Nick is Tris’ most recent victim. From here, the film takes on a sort of teen romantic character comedy that blends the sharp-tongued elements of ‘Juno’ with some crazy ‘Harold and Kumar’ situational elements, but also displays elements of candid dramedy reminiscent of ‘High Fidelity’.

Overall, ‘Nick and Norah’ succeed at entertaining and work well together on screen… but, most of that credit goes to Kat Dennings. The film takes a lot of jabs at the expense of the gay community, but never really felt too offensive. The story comes full circle with a satisfying end, whereas everyone gets what they deserve, but it’s the big city adventure in the middle that makes the film a fun time. The large and youthful cast also includes Aaron Yoo and Jay Baruchel. ‘Nick and Norahs Infinite Playlist’ is worth seeing and definitely worth hearing, but leave the box office sales to the age-specific crowd its marketed to and wait for the rental.

[rating:3.75/5]

Ram Man:

If you like a good teen romantic comedy with a kicking soundtrack…you need to cruise over the the cineplex and check out “Nick and Norah’s  Infinite Playlist”.  Ã‚  Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas) has  mixed some young stars: Micheal Cera (Juno) and Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett) with tunes from some of today’s freshest acts like Vampire Weekend, Paul Tiernan,We  Are Scientists and the Dead 60’s in order to tell the story of Nick and Norah’s  first night together in New York City.  

Micheal Cera playing the same character he has been in all of his films, is Nick. Nick is  plays guitar in his band “the Jerkoffs”. He is also the only one in the band that is heterosexual. Nick still pines for his ex girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena) who dumped him on his birthday. Nick expresses  his heartbreak  to her through mix Cd’s he sends her. Tris, who has been cheating on Nick the entire 6 months they have dated, just trashes the Cd’s. Norah (Kat Dennings) collects the CDs and  develops a secret crush on a guy that she has never met just from listening to the tapes.

Norah and her friend Caroline (Ari Graynor) decide to hit the town and catch the most elusive band in NYC..”Where’s Fluffy?”. a local legend that plays shows rave style…radio DJ’s give clues and the fans have to find out Where’s Fluffy! They end up at the same bar that the Jerkoffs are playing at. Tris shows up with her new boyfriend and drives Nick crazy. Tris and Norah don’t get along and are constantly giving the other trouble. When Tris decides to find Norah a guy she explains she came with her boyfriend. Tris can’t wait to see this until Norah walks over and lip locks to Nick..Tris’ ex! This is the start of the wackiest NYC ride you will ever take.

Nick and Norah decide to find Where’s fluffy while the rest of the Jerkoffs (the band) take home a blotto’d Caroline. Nick and Norah go through an awkward feeling out period but Norah soon realizes that Nick will never get over Tris. “Ring”… the band calls and they have lost Caroline! They stopped for hot dogs, Caroline woke up… drunk as a skunk in a strange van with guys she has never seen, so she bolts. Now in addition to looking for Where’s Fluffy, they need to find a drunk Caroline stumbling on the streets of the Big Apple.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a fun, musical and proper end to a great summer. It also features what may be the most disgusting scene in movie history. I have seen brains and organs eaten by zombies, heads explode, humans churned up in a wood chipper and all of the saw movies… but the scene where Caroline pukes in the toilet  at the train station then proceeds to drop her cell phone in it… followed by her gum, then she retrieves the phone and continues to use it (with out wiping it off)… you guessed it… she digs out her gum and resumes chewing!!!!!! GROSS! This had everyone in the theater setting down the popcorn.   Nick and Norah will remind you of classic teen films that rocked your world like Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High all great movies with some awesome tunes to tell the story by. I like Micheal Cera, I just wish he would play a different character in the future. I am a big fan of Kat Dennings… we just need to see more of her in the future!

[rating:4.25/5]