Play Anything

Dear Teenagers: You have now met your generation's John Cusack, and his name is Michael Cera. With Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (in theaters October 3), the cool-nerd superstar from Juno and Superbad cements his Cusackian status while showing us, um, older folks how far all-nighter teen comedies have come.

In this sweet film, worth checking out even if 30 is in the rearview mirror, the romantic leads are both dorky and attractive, they don’t drink (though their friends make up for it), the gay and straight characters get equal respect and, ultimately, love trumps sex. Nick (Cera) nurses a broken heart while jamming in a queercore band, The Jerkoffs, with his gay best buds and making mix CDs for his catty ex-girlfriend. But along comes Norah (the stealthily luminous Kat Dennings, who played Catherine Keener's daughter in The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and suddenly the pair are off in his Yugo on an all-night joyride in pursuit of a lost, drunk friend and a secret show by their favorite band — the fictitious but believable Where's Fluffy? The best part is they get all witty and articulate without veering into pretentious Juno-speak.

In a few cutesy moments, Nick & Norah can feel like ABC Family channeling Judd Apatow, but it succeeds thanks to its affable vibe, savvy soundtrack (Vampire Weekend, Bishop Allen, Band of Horses) and way capable cast. Makes us almost wish we were 15 again. Almost.


Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist will open October 3 from Columbia Pictures.