Cleverly written and engaging teen movies are relatively rare, so perhaps it's not a coincidence that two of the better recent ones—Superbad and Juno—also featured this film's leading man, Michael Cera, who is the pluperfect screen incarnation of the shy, intelligent, achingly vulnerable kid never entirely comfortable in his own skin. In filmmaker Peter Sollett's Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Cera plays Nick, a talented musician still pining for beautiful airhead Tris (Alexis Dziena), who dumped him (on his birthday). In an odd twist of fate, Nick is thrown together with one of his ex's private-school classmates, Nora (Kat Dennings), whose pre-formed opinion about Nick will be shaken during their after-hours wanderings in downtown Manhattan. Cera has this part nailed cold, while Dennings—who registered solidly in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The House Bunny—is equally impressive in this more demanding role. Anyone who partied in their younger days in lower Manhattan will recognize not only the locations but also the attitudes on display in this engaging charmer. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include two audio commentaries (the first with director Peter Sollett, and costars Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, and Ari Graynor; the second with Sollett, authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, and screenwriter Lorene Scafaria), 11 minutes of deleted/alternate scenes, storyboard animations (9 min.), “A Nick & Norah Puppet Show” by Dennings (5 min.), “Ari Graynor's Video Diaries” behind-the-scenes footage (4 min.), four minutes of outtakes, a three-minute faux interview (with Cera, Dennings, and costar Eddie Kaye Thomas), the music video “Middle Management” by Bishop Allen, a photo album, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are a “cinechat” option allowing viewers to send instant messages to others also watching the film, “Nick & Norah's Interactive Playlist” (enabling viewers to create and share playlists of their favorite Nick & Norah songs), a commentary track using a telestrator with the director and cast, and a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid little film.] (E. Hulse)
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Sony, 89 min., PG-13, DVD: $28.98, Blu-ray: $39.95, Feb. 3 Volume 24, Issue 1
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
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