YOUTH IN REVOLT — ★★★ — Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart; rated R (vulgarity, sex, violence, drugs, profanity, nude art, slurs); Broadway Centre
At this point in his career, it's unclear whether Michael Cera works best as a solo act or as part of a comedy team.
He was amusing with Jonah Hill in "Superbad." But his "Year One" pairing with Jack Black was enough to make you despise them both.
So, what to make of "Youth in Revolt," in which Michael Cera is paired with … Michael Cera. (He plays both the lead character as well as a more-assured, fantasy version of the same character.)
The film also tries to mine the familiar, salty-but-sweet formula employed by "Superbad" and other like-minded sex comedies. However, it works better than it should.
"Youth in Revolt" is based on the first couple of novels in author C.D. Payne's popular series. Cera stars as Payne's hero, Nick Twisp, a California teen who is determined to lose his virginity.
Opportunity presents itself when Nick and his mother, Estelle (Jean Smart), "vacation" to a nearby trailer park. Nick meets and immediately falls head over heels for another teen living there, Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday).
Lacking the confidence to woo Sheeni, Nick invents an alter-ego for himself. He's Francois Dillinger (a mustached Cera), who advises Nick on love and other life matters.
Unfortunately, Francois leads Nick to commit acts of vandalism, which only worsen his situation.
While the preoccupation with teen sex is distasteful, the film also appears to be making a case that sincerity and genuineness are the way to a woman's heart.
And Cera at least seems to be having fun, especially when he's playing the bad-guy incarnation of the character.
He's well-matched with newcomer Doubleday, and the supporting cast is filled with watchable veterans: Smart, Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard, M. Emmett Walsh, Mary Kay Place, Ray Liotta and Zach Galifianakis.
"Youth in Revolt" is rated R and features crude sexual humor (including cartoon sight gags) and references (mostly slang terms), other off-color humor (flatulence), simulated sex and other sexual contact (including some sexually explicit cartoon imagery), some brief but strong violent content (automotive and explosive mayhem, as well as some brief fisticuffs and brawling), drug content and references (various hallucinogens, painkillers and sleeping pills), strong sexual profanity, nude artwork and cartoons, and derogatory language and slurs (some based on race and sexual orientation). Running time: 90 minutes.
e-mail: jeff@desnews.com