Recently, photos were released and now there’s an official trailer for Miguel Arteta’s adaptation of the cult C.D. Payne novel, “Youth In Revolt.” And yes, it’s Rated-R, but it’s also a lot darker and funnier than we expected (relative of course, but still). Then again, Arteta’s “Chuck & Buck,” was crazy dark and hilariously twisted too. Maybe a return to form?
There’s an interesting “Fight Club”-like twist to this one where Michael Cera’s wimpy Nick Twisp character decides to invent a bad-boy evil half to get the girl of his dreams (newcomer Portia Doubleday). Or as Twisp put its, “I’ve decided to create a supplementary persona named Francois Dillinger. Bold, contemptuous of authority. And irresistible to women.” Playing two personalities at once (one of them is essentially a big irreverent rebellious dick) looks like it might finally give Cera an opportunity to stretch his acting abilities.
Cera co-stars with Doubleday, Adhir Kalyan (“Aliens in America”) and the supporting cast — Steve Buscemi, Jean Smart, Ray Liotta, Justin Long, Ari Graynor and Zack Galifianakis — is pretty outstanding. It can’t be anymore innocuous than the toothless, “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” can it? It looks at least to provide some decent laughs and the R-Rating is always favorable when it comes to comedy. “Youth In Revolt” hits theaters October 30.