Finally: a movie where Michael Cera doesn’t play Michael Cera. Well, sort of. In “Youth in Revolt,” he still plays his signature awkward-to-the-max character — only this time, a bad-ass is added to the mix. And that bad-ass just so happens to be played by Cera.

Based on the cult-classic novel by C.D. Payne, the film directed by Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl,” “Chuck and Buck”) tells the story of Nick Twisp (a.k.a. Cera), a self-lamenting high schooler who sees everyone around him getting some action but fails to lose his virginity.

Nick isn’t your stereotypical teen. His playlist includes songs by Frank Sinatra and he enjoys classic prose. Nick meets the girl of his wet dreams, the beautiful Sheeni Saunders (played by Portia Doubleday), during a “family vacation” (it’s less glamorous than it sounds — you’ll understand once you see the movie).

However, Sheeni has a stuck-up poetry-writing prick of a boyfriend and in order to win her over, Nick has to get in touch with his dark side. You see, Sheeni likes her men bad and we’re not talking high school bully bad, we’re talking brash French playboy bad, and that’s exactly what Cera becomes. He adopts a mustache-baring, Euro-pant wearing, smoker alter-ego who goes by the name of François Dillinger.

Troublemaker would be an understatement when describing François. He convinces Nick to do the most unrealistic things involving cars (I won’t ruin the surprise). But more importantly, Cera himself is relatively convincing as François. He’s mastered the nebbish teen character in movies like “Juno,” “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playist,” and “Superbad,” but François may very well be his ticket to varying roles. The scenes involving Nick and François are by far the funniest ones. Still, the movie counts with a talented supporting cast who help keep the ball rolling.

Three-time Emmy-winner Jean Smart plays Nick’s promiscuous mother, “The Hangover’s” Zach Galifianakis plays her boyfriend, Justin Long plays a druggy, Steve Buscemi is Nick’s father, Ari Graynor appears in “Youth in Revolt” as well (she previously co-starred with Cera in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” as Norah’s very funny drunk friend) — and the list goes on. Newcomer Portia Doubleday is charming as Sheeni and holds her own with Cera.

While entertaining, “Youth in Revolt” isn’t a movie that will renovate its genre. However, Cera fans will have plenty of awkward moments to rejoice and for those of you who aren’t Cera fans, well he may just win you over with François. One thing is for sure: we can definitely forgive him for starring in “Year One.”






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