Youth in Revolt (2009)

(On Cable TV, February 2012) Teen comedies starring Michael Cera may look the same, but they’re not always the same.  Exception made of the superlative Scott Pilgrim, Youth in Revolt is a bit better than the others: Cera can here depend on a clever script and an amusing “evil personae” plot device to extend his typical screen presence beyond the usual, and the film can be surprisingly unexpected at times.  The story of a dweebish young teenager trying to win over a girl while acting as delinquently as possible, Youth in Revolt distinguishes itself though witty dialogue, unexpected turns, full characterization and oddball details –it particularly flips over a number of teen-movie plot devices in showing dastardly plans blowing up in the protagonist’s face, doesn’t pander to empty morality and uses a wider vocabulary in its witty dialogue than most other similar teen movies.  While Youth in Revolt can’t escape a certain amount of aimlessness in its plotting, it makes up for it with a good conclusion and a clever use of some actors.  It’s off-beat enough to fit within the Juno frame of reference, but not derivative enough to be stuck in it.  Give it a try, especially if you think you’ve reached the end of your tolerance for the Cera personae.