PICK OF THE WEEK
Youth in Revolt
In Miguel Arteta’s infectious comedy, Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), is a gawky, geeky virgin, a perpetually horny smartass, who just wants to get laid. A hilarious adaptation of C.D. Payne’s novel, Nick finds his dream girl Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday) in the most unlikeliest of places: the Restless Axels trailer park in Ukiah, California. Nick’s pursuit of the complicated, mischievous Sheeni is comic gold. He adopts a badass French rebel alter ego, “François Dillinger,” who claims he will “rescue him from himself.” As “François,” Nick starts manipulating things to bring him and Sheeni together. In the process, cars and people get damaged. It would spoil the film’s best jokes to explain more. What can be revealed is that much of the laughter in this riotous ode to teenage rebellion stems from the precise language the characters use to express what they are thinking. Whenever Nick/François speaks, he’s incredibly witty, and when he writes letters to emasculate and eviscerate his rival for Sheeni’s love, it’s pure poetry. The fine script provides Cera with what may be the best role of his career, because his deadpan delivery makes Youth in Revolt’s many zingers sing.

ALSO OPENING:
Daybreakers
More vampire madness, this time the vampires are enlisted to help the good guy (Ethan Hawke) save the human race. Willem Dafoe co-stars.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Terry Gilliam’s film about the title Doctor (Christopher Plummer) and his ability to inspire others’ imaginations with his traveling theatre company will be full of the director’s eye-popping spectacles. But however dazzling the imagery in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is, the film will be remembered for featuring posthumous Oscar-winner Heath Ledger in his final role—a part shared by Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp and Jude Law.

Leap Year
Ireland is the setting for this piece of blarney about Anna (Amy Adams) an uptight Bostonian who follows her cardiologist boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin so she can—according to a folklore tradition—propose to him on February 29. Through a series of catastrophes—each as bad as this film—she hooks up with Declan (Matthew Goode), who agrees to escort her to Dublin for money he needs to save his pub. Of course, it’s loath at first fight for this pair—the shrew that needs taming, and the heartthrob with the broken heart. Guess what happens. It’s unfair to blame this formulaic romantic comedy for being predictable—most rom-coms are—but the attractive leads lack the chemistry required to save this slap-stuck vehicle. Unremarkably directed by Anand Tucker, Leap Year features no surprises or pleasure watching the would-be couple fight on the road, or over a bed. Only when they are forced to kiss do they register any sparks. But it’s not enough to kindle this insufferable frustration comedy that is more frustration than comedy. Even the unfunny aorta joke—i.e., “Aorta leave”—is used twice. At least the Irish scenery is as pretty as the performers. If only the film were even half as satisfying.