2008 Woodie Awards
'Nick and Norah' falls short of a full playlist
Humor and reality can't save film's confusing plot
by Ashley Marks
Issue date: 10/7/08
Section: Movies
One night in New York is the set for a romance in "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." Director Peter Sollett creates a balance of humor and awkwardness in the quest to find the band Where's Fluffy.
The film essentially shows the constant struggle between past loves and present relationships while using music as a connection. Nick (Michael Cera) is just a guy in a band called The Jerk Offs trying to get over his recent ex-girlfriend, Tris (Alexis Dziena).
Norah (Kat Dennings) has known Tris since childhood and collects Nick's mixed CDs when Tris throws them away. She falls in love with Nick because of the playlists he makes for Tris before they ever meet.
Nick and Norah meet at one of Nick's gigs that his gay bandmates have to plead with him to attend. Norah needs a quick boyfriend to impress Tris and lands on Nick. This starts a whirlwind of past emotions, especially when Norah's ex-boyfriend with benefits, Tal (Jay Baruchel), enters the picture.
The mission of the night is to find the band Where's fluffy. But in the meantime, Caroline (Ari Graynor), gets completely drunk before and at the bars.
Caroline's drunkenness becomes a laughing matter when she runs from the band after waking up from being passed out. Her low point is digging in the toilet for her gum and phone. This gum ends up with Norah and Nick.
There seems to be a slight moral problem with using a high school girl getting drunk and lost in the city to add humor to a movie.
Throughout the night Nick and Norah's exes plot against their newfound love. Nick and Norah are obsessed with the music that holds them together, which makes for a predictable ending.
Cera is good to play the role of Nick, who is the dorky, nervous desperate type. Dennings has a slightly stronger head on her shoulders but is still a nervous, awkward type too. These awkward conversations bring out some real life situations the audience can relate to easily.
Norah is the typical anti-social, insecure girl opposite Tris, the skinny popular girl.
Caroline and the gay bandmates add humor the movie cannot live without. It parallels the awkwardness nicely. This is definitely a "Juno" movie without the plot line.
"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" starts off strong with humor and reality, but leaves viewers wondering what the plot is. The only thing connecting this movie seems to be the community gum.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Ashley Marks is a Reporter staff writer
The film essentially shows the constant struggle between past loves and present relationships while using music as a connection. Nick (Michael Cera) is just a guy in a band called The Jerk Offs trying to get over his recent ex-girlfriend, Tris (Alexis Dziena).
Norah (Kat Dennings) has known Tris since childhood and collects Nick's mixed CDs when Tris throws them away. She falls in love with Nick because of the playlists he makes for Tris before they ever meet.
Nick and Norah meet at one of Nick's gigs that his gay bandmates have to plead with him to attend. Norah needs a quick boyfriend to impress Tris and lands on Nick. This starts a whirlwind of past emotions, especially when Norah's ex-boyfriend with benefits, Tal (Jay Baruchel), enters the picture.
The mission of the night is to find the band Where's fluffy. But in the meantime, Caroline (Ari Graynor), gets completely drunk before and at the bars.
Caroline's drunkenness becomes a laughing matter when she runs from the band after waking up from being passed out. Her low point is digging in the toilet for her gum and phone. This gum ends up with Norah and Nick.
There seems to be a slight moral problem with using a high school girl getting drunk and lost in the city to add humor to a movie.
Throughout the night Nick and Norah's exes plot against their newfound love. Nick and Norah are obsessed with the music that holds them together, which makes for a predictable ending.
Cera is good to play the role of Nick, who is the dorky, nervous desperate type. Dennings has a slightly stronger head on her shoulders but is still a nervous, awkward type too. These awkward conversations bring out some real life situations the audience can relate to easily.
Norah is the typical anti-social, insecure girl opposite Tris, the skinny popular girl.
Caroline and the gay bandmates add humor the movie cannot live without. It parallels the awkwardness nicely. This is definitely a "Juno" movie without the plot line.
"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" starts off strong with humor and reality, but leaves viewers wondering what the plot is. The only thing connecting this movie seems to be the community gum.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Ashley Marks is a Reporter staff writer
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movie fan
posted 10/12/08 @ 3:48 PM CST
there were some awkward moments in this movie that were hard to get past... such as every time that gum was re-used (yuck!)
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