Dec. 4, 2008

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released Oct. 5, 2008

1 hr. 30 min.

Pg-13

Peter Sollett/Columbia

Michael Cera

Kat Dennings

How do you make a professional looking film for around 9 million dollars? First, you cast a lot of young actors who do not splash the tabloids. Second, you get stars bigger than your leads to appear in cameo (for little to no money). Third, in a movie whose title might suggest a massively expensive soundtrack you instead fill said playlist with the likes of: We Are Scientists, The Dead 60’s, Vampire Weekend, Bishop Allen, and The Submarines. Fourth, weave the story-line around indie rock so no one thinks you skimped on paying royalties to say Green Day or Coldplay.

There are other ways to succeed, and this movie uses them all. Unashamedly. Unabashedly. Even though your movie asks you to cast the lesser paid actors to fit your budget–you must not forget that to draw in today’s youth and beauty obsessed viewer you simply must cast beautiful people. If Michael Cera isn’t beautiful enough (therefore already drawing the everyman viewer), why not have his ex-girlfriend be too pretty to look his way in the real world? Next, cast a new girlfriend who isn’t the Betty we want to see in this indie-everyman-rebel film–but is still quite pretty. But take no chances here. Be sure to hire several makeup professionals to be ready to paint (and I mean paint) her lips before each scene is shot. Verse said makeup artists in “The Jolie” style of lip painting. Be safe though–go ahead and clearly outline her lips in an attempt to give madame Jolie a run for her money.

Next, base the screenplay on a novel no one is clamoring to buy. Pay a screenwriter who is largely unproven and unknown. Hire a director with almost no credits but the vision to re-write Footloose as a cinematic musical starring Zac Efron. Be sure to shoot much of the film with hand-helds and in the middle of the night. Oh, wait, very important…be sure to leave out the Fuck Shit Piss language of the novel. Call Nick’s band the Jerk Offs instead of the Fuck offs. You must garner the PG-13 rating to reap a profit. (Interesting that the novel is geared to 9th grade and up, meaning even the “system” finds such language appropriate in print. Interesting that such language will get you an R rating, but amped up violence passes in PG-13 movies like Quantum of Solace.)

Finally, beg, steal and borrow every movie trick you’ve seen done in the past 20 years. See if you can spot these iconic scenes within Nick and Nora and also guess which films they’ve “borrowed” from: main character needs to decide on college during the one evening in which the film takes place, new couple has to drive home a drunk person, main character takes other main character to a place of reverie, after hours, to impress them, high school kids seem to dominate the club scene. And don’t forget to throw in the obligatory reference to tunnels and bridges. Stir.

Bottom line 3.0/5.0