Tom Maurstad (24 May 2012)

Some may find such elements desperate or calculated in their quirky-cuteness, but I think they add to the movie's efforts to evoke the surrealism and excruciating intensity of, as the title puts it, youth in revolt.

Staci Layne Wilson (24 May 2012)

Director Miguel Arteta can't quite keep all the balls in the air long enough to sustain the film's running time, but he does manage a bang-up ending that's worth the wait.

Bence Locsei (17 May 2012)

Lovely and cool movie.

I'm beginning to love these new kind of indie-mainstream flicks thatstarted appearing these days. The human touch those big blockbusterstotally eradicated from mainstream entertainment along the last decadesseem to have found a place in American movie production. Though thisone may seem to get out of control at a certain point, a point where Icursed the script for disappointing solutions, at the end, it all justseemed okay and I realized, that this lost control is exactly that,which makes life real. I'm also very entertained by Michael Cera'spersonal style, whether it's just a trend thing or not, he can comealong with a few more of these before I get bored. All in all, prettyneat and hilarious movie. 7/10

(17 May 2012)

A near perfect comedy w/ heart! 4.5 stars!

Based upon the novels by CD Payne, this film has a typical "young man out to lose his virginity" plot that so many teen comedies do. However, it's not a comedy for teens; it's for adults who like comedies, and it happens to be about teens. This film sets itself apart from typical teen-fare with its sharp dialogue and quirky characters. Michael Cera stars and brings his usual nerdy charm to the role yet this time his character has an underlying passionate, smooth talking badassness that shines through in a way that separates him from other similar roles. Some may be quick to pass this off as a "hipster" comedy, but they'd be missing the mark--there's no irony in Cera's protagonist. He's all heart and, much like this film, hilarious to watch.

t-g-orrell (08 May 2012)

How to cut yourself short with a brilliant idea.

Take a brilliant idea, add in a "poor-me" story, and use that ideasparingly to get Youth In Revolt. I kept waiting for this movie to takeoff, but it cut itself short at every angle. Spoiler Alert(not really):every funny scene was already in the previews (more or less)! And don'tget me wrong, they were funny by all means, but that momentum alwaysstops immediately and goes back to poor Cera trying to cope and prosperin his less-than-stellar life. The impression the previews give you isthat Cera develops this alter-persona and then has his influence therest of the time; had they done this, this movie would have been aclassic. Also, how do you have Zach Galifinakis NOT be funny? Anotherexample of cutting yourself short.

Mary F. Pols (08 May 2012)

Uneven but occasionally quite funny...

Fred Topel (27 April 2012)

Pretentious, but lovingly so.

Calvin Wilson (27 April 2012)

Youth in Revolt is a delightful film that makes no apologies for its irreverence. It's also the first great comedy of this decade.

Claudia Puig (26 April 2012)

It's a pleasant surprise to see the engaging, soft-spoken star of Superbad and Juno stretch and play a devil-may-care slimeball.

axismladen (25 April 2012)

Great trailer and nothing else!

After i've seen the trailer i couldn't wait to see it! The trailer isreally good! Unfortunately, the movie's not. There were only two ormaybe three scenes i actually laughed at and the writing structure isso bad that it doesn't even deserve to be criticized. I really can'tfind anything good about it. Even Steve Buscemi, who is usually funnyby appearance only, is waisted in this film! The only character ithought to be a bit funny is Jerry played by Zach Galifianakis. Thereis really nothing else that's good about this movie. Maybe MichaelCera's performance. His acting was really surprising. Though, alsocompletely wasted!!! Don't watch it! If you like this sort of movies than watch Superbadinstead!!! This movie is a waste of time and money!!!

Annlee Ellingson (20 April 2012)

In an irreverent and adorable coming-to-maturity story, Michael Cera displays versatility in a dual role.

Dylan-Rickman (20 April 2012)

For all the world knows, my vagina could be moist with desire as we speak.

Youth In Revolt 2010, dir: Miguel ArtetaEver since he burst onto the scene in 2007 with his double-wammy ofJuno and Superbad, Michael Cera has been consistently giving theAmerican public the "nerdy-awkward-virginial-teen" role later fashionedby the likes of Jesse Eisenberg. As typecast and annoying as he may beto film fans, teen audiences can't get enough of it. So, does thelatest Cera vehicle, Youth In Revolt, directed by Miguel Arteta (bestknown for directing episodes of TV series' such as The Office, UglyBetty and Freaks & Geeks) and based on the bestsellers by CD Payne, doanything to revert the stereotype? The answer is a big fat NO. Well, noand yes. For it is a remarkably accomplished film, considering that itstarget audience is extremely narrow.Our protagonist is Nick Twisp, a sixteen-year-old loser driftingbetween his divorced parents. Michael Cera plays the role extremelywell - of course, it's nothing miraculous; a slightly more confidentand romantic Paulie Bleeker, if you will. After one of his stepfather'sbotched car deals backfires, Nick, his slutty mother andpossibly-abusive stepdad move to a trailer park. This is where Nickmeets Sheeni Saunders, rebellious youngest daughter of anultra-religious family. Somehow, Nick knows from the second he sees herthat she's "the one", but winning her over is not going to be easy -but nerdy-awkward-virginial Cera must prove his loyalty by committing aseries of rebellious (and sometimes criminal) tasks, with the help ofan ultra-cool and in my opinion soon-to-be-iconic alter ego, FrancoisDillinger. It's an alarmingly high-concept premise for such alow-budget teen film, but the charisma of the lead and theunpredictability of the script make it work. The film also offers somefantastically exciting set pieces, and a surprising sense of humanity.Where the film really hits its stride, however, is in the interactionbetween Cera and his castmates. The most memorable scene in the filmoccurs about a third in, on Nick and Sheeni's first "date", on a beach.When Cera is asked to massage his object of lust's back, he does sowillingly, resulting in a bizarrely surreal and hilarious dialogueexchange. "You get excited so easily. Girls get it much easier," Sheeniquips, "For all the world knows, my vagina could be moist with desireas we speak." So, is Youth In Revolt a game-changer, a classic that will beremembered for years to come? Of course not, but that's besides thepoint. As it stands, it's a hugely enjoyable teen film that, if nothingelse, will satisfy the die-hard target audience.

Jordan Hoffman (18 April 2012)

"Yes, even smart, artistic and good boys are exploding with hormones at age sixteen."

lawrence-woodford (18 April 2012)

A bit hit and miss

A bit hit and miss with this movie. It has quite an indie feel to itand as with a lot of these sorts of comedies most of the best jokes arecrammed in to the trailer. It made me laugh on a numerous occasions butnot hysterically. Unfortunately there were also a number of times whenI found myself unabsorbed with what was going on, on screen and foundmyself looking around the cinema to gauge others reactions. Far be itto say there were a few grinding moments the movie could have donewithout.This movie does like its cringe comedy and for the time I was absorbedI would say it's not that bad. In fact I probably would have liked it ahell of a lot more if I hadn't seen the trailer first which pretty muchruined all of the plot twists and jokes for me. If you like that sortof "Juno" comedy with a splash of "Fight Club" you will probably lovethis. However Michael Cera is going to have to step out of his shelleventually and stop playing the socially awkward dreeb, put on his manboots and try a new role.Overall I give this 5/10. Probably 6 if I hadn't seen the trailerfirst.

(17 April 2012)

Not for everyone, but very enjoyable

This film is quite polarizing. Some people really like it, and some think it's the worst film ever. I myself am in the former category, with some reservations. The film was released in January this year and did poorly at the box office. I think this is due to two reasons: 1. The release date (nobody sees a film in January); 2. The film really has no target audience. Whereas a film like "The Hangover" was so successful because virtually anyone could enjoy it, this film is the opposite; it's a mainstream film designed for a very small niche.Based on a 500 page novel by C. D. Payne, "Youth in Revolt" is a very strange movie. I have not read the novel, but I assume the film offers a very condensed, Cliffs-Notes like retelling of the story. Michael Cera (that awkward guy from "Superbad" and "Juno") stars as 16-year-old Nick Twisp, a Holden Caulfield-like character. Nick lives with his erratic mom, Estelle (Jean Smart), and her oafish boyfriend, Jerry (Zach Galifinakis of the aforementioned "Hangover"), in Oakland, California. When Jerry owes a group of sailors money for a car, Jerry takes Estelle and Nick on vacation to Clearlake to a trailer park, where Nick meets Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday), a beautiful girl with shard interests. Nick spends time with Sheeni, learning that she's just as neurotic as he is. She tells him she already has a boyfriend in the jock/poet Trent Preston (Jonathan Bradford Wright), and Nick makes up a girlfriend named Martha to impress Sheeni. Sheeni later reads his diary and is not upset that he lied to her. They buy a dog, whom Sheeni names Albert (pronounced Al-Bear), who becomes their "lovechild." When it comes time for Nick to leave, Sheeni encourages him to be "very, very bad" so he can move to Ukiah to live with his temperamental father, George (Steve Buscemi), and they can be together.Back at home, Nick coaxes his best friend, Lefty (Erik Knudsen), to keep Albert for him since Estelle hates dogs. Nick creates an alter-ego to help him with his misdeeds, a French boy by the name of François Dillinger (Sheeni dreams of her French husband to be named François), who has a deeper voice, a mustache, blue eyes, and a player/bad boy attitude. With François' help, Nick begins to mouth off to his mom and her new boyfriend, police officer Lance Wescott (Ray Liotta) (Jerry has just died of a heart attack in a bar). Nick soon causes the most trouble when François takes the family car and trailer out onto the streets with gasoline in the back seat and "accidentally" lets the trailer go, sending it crashing into a local restaurant. Then François lets go of the car, spiraling it into the trailer, causing a huge explosion and traffic jam.I will not go into any more detail, so as not to spoil anything. While it's not for everyone, I liked it.Recommended.

James Rocchi (16 April 2012)

Story of "bad-boy" teen is funny, but also rough and raw.

Brian Orndorf (13 April 2012)

There's little to care about in Youth in Revolt, and even less to laugh with; the film lost in a stupor it never successfully navigates out of.

Gary Thompson (12 April 2012)

It's Fight Club crossed with puberty.

dgerenrot (12 April 2012)

Read the book first!

All right, out of great respect for the novel 'Youth in Revolt', by C.D. Payne, and my genuine fondness of Sheeni, one my favorite literaturecharacters, I shall try to be gentle. My summary: the movie does notmeasure up to the book. Portia Doubleday is, plainly put, unconvincing. She can play Aunt Pollyfrom Tom Sawyer just fine, when she gets a bit older, but a refinedintellectual, a straight A student worthy of an upscale private school– as Stanislavsky once put it, "I do not believe it." She just lackedthe sting. It might not be her fault. It could be the makeup artist and thedirector, but judging by what I have seen, Kate Hudson would have beenmuch more appropriate for the role. The pricklier jokes from the book have also been edited out, such asthe episode about the pedophilic priest. Well, that one isunderstandable: we cannot tolerate perverted clergy on an Americanscreen, not unless it's CNN. I, therefore, recommend: read the novel first, then see the movie. Itis a decent comedy in its own right, but do not let the inferior actingspoil the first impression for you.

Keith Uhlich (12 April 2012)

It's a kick to see Cera cut loose from his patented befuddled-nerd routine, even if the film's caricatured performances and fish-in-a-barrel scorn are sure to be monotonous for some.