Michael Cera shines again in Teenage Fable
Written by Elena De Sacco
The roles which Canadian actor Michael Cera has taken on so far all seem to have suffered from being strangely alike: young, incredibly awkward but nevertheless, or maybe precisely for it, loveable teenage boys with the ‘aww-factor’. 
Typecasting quickly became the first stop on the critics’ road. When Cera was announced to portray the main protagonist in the adaptation of C.D. Payne’s novel, Youth in Revolt: The Journals of Nick Twisp, many were afraid that once again his act would consist of nervous shuffling and elongated vowels.

However, the appearance of Nick’s alter ego François, a sophisticated, smooth Frenchman, lets Cera display his full acting potential and comedic quality.

Youth in Revolt is the tale of teenage rebellion bundled with first love, but with a realistic tone to it that saves it from being all too soppy. The cinematography will come as a treat for lovers of films such as 500 Days of Summer as well as Superbad.  Director Miguel Arteta employs brilliant characters, cartoon sequences and a fitting soundtrack so well that, despite the use of Nick’s imaginary friend, the film cuts right through to the truth of its own story. It does not need the forced length of an epic, like so many works of cinema nowadays, to prove itself and finds the right point at which to peak the story.

The essence of Youth in Revolt, however, is the chemistry between Cera and female lead Portia Doubleday, engaging with each other in an otherworldly way which is both slightly uncanny and hilarious. Their teenage sarcasm stems from intelligence, not boredom, making it the the perfect ‘alternative’ romantic-coming-of-age film. If this is typecasting, Michael Cera can happily accept this fate and remain in teenage limbo.