Youth in Revolt (15)
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The impression that Michael Cera, star of Superbad and Juno, had overdrawn on his gawky, sweet-faced charm seemed unarguable in the light of the daft caveman comedy Year One.
Could he really get away with playing another of his vulnerable, virginal but deep-down-loveable teens? Miguel (The Good Girl) Arteta, adapting from the novel by C D Payne, has somehow enabled him to. He plays Nick Twisp, whose cinephile tastes and Sinatra worship can't hide the longing in his heart for a girl to love. And – a miracle! – while on a family vacation he meets one, Sheeni (Portia Doubleday), who returns his interest up to a point but really wants a romance with someone louche and dangerous and preferably French. So Nick dreams up an alter ego named Francois, who will be cool and reckless in a way he himself could never be – "I'm here to rescue you from yourself," says this laid-back dude, played by Cera with pencil moustache and white slacks. The contrast between Nick and his bad angel whips up a pleasing comedy of delinquency, flavoured along the way by reliable character turns from Zach Galifianakis, Steve Buscemi, Jean Smart and Ray Liotta. But it's Cera who pulls the thing together, his oddly sheep-like face an endearing barometer of anxiety and hurt: it should be irritating by now, but it's not. And he gets some killer lines. Eager to go hiking in the woods with Sheeni, Nick makes light of being ill-equipped for the trek: "I enter the wilderness with nothing more than my journal and a childlike sense of wonder."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments