First Hit: I enjoyed this film because I sensed the main characters were kids other kids could relate to and it felt real.
This is a story about a boy, Nick (played by Michael Cera) who loses his first love and is pining over this loss. He makes woeful playlists on CDs and gives him to his old girlfriend. She just laughs at the CD cover art and drops them in the waste can without ever listening to them. Michael plays Nick perfect. He is accessible, honest, open, and believable.
One night he joins his band members (The Jerk Offs) for a set at a club in downtown NY. During the set, he sees his old girlfriend with a new guy. He’s heartbroken but Nora, whom he doesn’t know but his old girlfriend does, walks over to him, kisses him and asks him to help him take her drunk girlfriend home before they head out to find a hot band called Fluffy.
The story, although unbelievable at times, is never unbelievable when it comes to the interaction between Nick and Nora.
Michael Cera is great as Nick and Kat Dennings is wonderful as Nora. Their interaction is spot on, touching, real and endearing. Peter Sollett does a great job of keeping their story on track, although the other characters weren’t as lucky. On a personal note, to see inside Electric Lady Studios was very moving.
Overall: This was an enjoyable light film because Michael and Kat played their parts very well.