It's probably a good thing that Michael Cera found this niche acting job market, because otherwise he'd be totally screwed. My concern is what's going to happen when he's obviously NOT 16 (as opposed to being only somewhat not obviously 16). The good news is that he's pretty funny in Youth In Revolt. I don't always like Cera, in fact I think other than Scott Pilgrim v. The World, and Juno, I haven't liked him in anything. I also liked Zach Galifianakis in this movie and I don't like him in ANYTHING.
Youth In Revolt is your basic coming-of-age film with a few twists that aren't totally unique. It's all about that first flush of romance and the pull of first love. As a species, humans are never dumber than when we're in that moment of our lives, and Youth is a testament to that stupidity. What is unique is that this movie wasn't set as far back in the past as I had thought (based on the clothes of the cast members). My clue was the purchase of a dog with a "Subway card with four stickers on it." It's also unique that this coming-of-age movie is funny. Ridiculously so. There are one-liners and situations that are so hysterical that if they aren't being freely quoted on the internet, they should be. Justin Long bumps this up just a bit and I regret that his part wasn't a bit bigger. But the man does do a good cameo.
The multi-personality creation between Nick and Francois is brilliant. I especially like that regardless of which is talking or moving around, there's no change in perspective on the part of the rest of the cast. Although what self-respecting modern teenager would create an alter ego that wore white sansabelt pants and a blue button down linen shirt? Don't get me started on the mustache.
If this movie has a fault, it's that none of the cast of characters feel real in something other than fits and starts. It's not that this keeps the movie from being funny, but it takes the story from being funny because these things could happen to funny because of how ludicrous these people are.
