Customer Reviews

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I was all prepared to trivialize this movie for what I expected to be another hipster teen comedy taking advantage of the success of Juno and Superbad, especially given that Michael Cera is the co-star of all three films. However, this 2008 movie is really a quirky, sharply played variation on Martin Scorsese's 1985 After Hours, this time focusing on two misfit teens, kindred spirits when it comes to their taste in music, who find themselves traipsing through New York's indie rock scene for one hilariously sleepless night. Their chemistry is predestined by their names, a tribute to the scintillating married couple played by William Powell and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man series of golden-era Hollywood classics. Their nocturnal misadventures are driven by Nora's search for her hard-partying best friend Caroline, who escaped in a fit of paranoia out of a van, while gay-band bassist Nick is nursing a broken heart over Tris, the shallow, man-baiting ex-girlfriend who continues to play him.

If the movie simply limited itself to the odyssey, it would have been satisfying enough for its intended audience, but what director Peter Sollett and screenwriter Lorene Scarfaria have done to transcend the genre is make the lead characters' mutual passion for music the focal emotional point of their growing attraction for one another. Nick keeps sending Tris idiosyncratic mix CDs (like "Road to Closure, Vol. 12"), which she tosses into the trash only to provide Nora an opportunity to retrieve them and listen to reflections of his broken heart. Neither is able to articulate their feelings otherwise, as shown by their comically bumbling conversations, so the music plays a vital part of their burgeoning relationship. I still don't find Cera terribly versatile, but he has been resourceful in using his now-familiar screen persona of a dweebish sad-sack in suitably well-turned material.

Familiar as Catherine Keener's edgy but ultimately caring daughter in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Kat Dennings comes into her own as Norah, capturing the insecurity of a character who leaves herself wide open to the pain inflicted by those around her. There are scene-stealing turns by Ari Graynor as the constantly drunken Caroline, Alexis Dziena as self-appointed goddess Tris, and Rafi Gavron and Aaron Yoo as Nick's club-friendly gay bandmates. There are a couple of Saturday Night Live cast cameos thrown in - "newscaster" Seth Meyers as the horned-up passenger mistaking Nick's yellow Yugo as a cab (with Scarfaria as his girlfriend) and Andy Samberg as a bum lurking on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The alt-rock music is appropriately underground to fit the story. There really isn't that much more to the movie since the fate of these characters is clear from the outset.

It's simply that the film has good energy fueled by the constant barrage of music and smart dialogue to fill the love story that emerges from their long night's journey into morning. There are a surprising number of extras with the 2009 DVD starting with two separate commentaries, the first with Sollett, Cera, Dennings and Graynor discussing the production details, and the second with Sollett and the source novel's writers, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, in which they discuss more of the story and screen adaptation. There are deleted scenes and outtakes, some quite funny but understandably excised, and an amusingly off-kilter Nick & Norah puppet show by Dennings. Rounding out the extras are storyboards, photo galleries, Graynor's video diary, a music video, and a funny faux-interview with Cera and Dennings.

I am over 50 and even though this movie is probably aimed at teenagers
i found it really enjoyable,this was due to really clever writing and
a excellent cast that seemed to work well together.
I had allready borrowed this movie from my brother and decided after
watching it to buy a copy for myself from the U.S. (i`m in australia)
that`s how much i enjoyed this movie.
The picture and audio is very good as you would expect with blu-ray
and this movie had some fantastic music.

When you think about it, nothing much really happens in this movie. NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST takes place in the course of one day and night, with the crux of the story occuring in the wee hours of the morning. So there's a bit of an energetic After Hours vibe in this movie, but catered towards the sensibilities of hip teenagers who prowl the New York streets way past their bedtime. But then it also has echoes of Adventures in Babysitting, with Ari Graynor's awfully wasted Caroline subbing in for Penelope Ann Miller's nervous Brenda. Going into this one, and me being a huge fan of one of the most fabulous romantic couples in cinema, Nick and Nora Charles (of the Thin Man series), I was already favorably predisposed towards this quirky teenage romantic comedy.

Norah has never met Nick. But she knows about this guy who makes the best break-up mix CDs, most of which were pieced together for his ex-girlfriend Tris (his latest opus being titled "Road to Closure Vol. 12"). But Tris just pokes fun at the poor sap and then promptly discards these mixes, with Norah then un-discarding them and putting them in her I-pod. Because Norah absolutely digs these mixes. So, no, Norah has never met Nick, but she's probably halfway in love with the guy anyway.

Now Nick may not look like he's all that (in fact, he looks kinda dorky), yet he plays in a rock band, plays the guitar although he doesn't quite know how to work the drum machine. And dude drives a broken-down yellow Yugo which people often mistake for a taxi. But being in a band has to count for a couple of cool points, right? The plot MacGuffin is that the legendary rock band Fluffy is scheduled to put on a secret show somewhere in NYC, the rub being, of course, that the time and location are kept a mystery, leaving Fluffy's fans scouring the city for clues in the form of little white rabbits. Nick and Norah happen to be such fans, and, during this evening, they meet by chance and then are thrown together by circumstances (circumstances being the misplacing of Norah's unholily inebriated BFF and a half-hearted quest to find Fluffy). And, somehow, someway, it turns out that Nick and Norah just may be perfect for each other.

Segue alert. The special features in this dvd are pretty righteous: two cool audio commentaries - one with Director Peter Sollett, Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, and Ari Graynor (fun!); the other with Peter Sollett, authors Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, and screenwriter Lorene Scafaria; 4 minutes of outtakes; 9 deleted/alternate scenes; an awesome "Nick & Norah Puppet Show" by Kat Dennings (she pretty much recaps the film but also throws in a savage bear); Ari Graynor's excellent video diary; storyboard animations; a fake interview with Michael Cera & Kat Dennings; Peter Sollett's photo album; and Bishop Allen's music video "Middle Management." All worth checking out.

I really like this movie. See this one especially if you like movies in which two people just mostly hang out and come to find that they're awesomely sympatico. Michael Cera (Juno (Single-Disc Edition)) and Kat Dennings are terrific together, showing off an easy, natural chemistry. The low-key Michael Cera, with his not-quite-male-model looks, is likeable because he's so relatable to nerds like me, but he's also got his act together, not to mention that Cera has that wonderfully dry delivery. Kat Dennings is amazing in this film, with her vibrancy and spunk and wistful vulnerability and just her girl-next-door realness. How can you not pull for her, especially when you find out that her ex-boyfriend was mostly using her to get in good with her influential music producer dad? And don't discount the supporting actors. It's cool that Nick's gay homies aren't portrayed stereotypically, but more as regular dudes and who really are looking out for Nick. And credit to Ari Graynor for being a good sport in some pretty humiliating haplessly drunk scenes (that scene of Caroline sifting thru a soiled toilet for her bubble gum is funny, but in a really gross kinda way).

Do they ever find the legendary rock band Fluffy? It doesn't really matter, because this movie isn't really about Fluffy. There's no dumbing down here, and there are many moments of great appeal, mostly generated by the two leads. Set in the gritty neon backdrop of the Big Apple at night and with a playlist of cool indie-rock tunes to serenade things along, NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST, funny and romantic, wistful and unconventional, should please both teens and adults, the night owls and even those who like to turn in early - and thus will never know the delights of experiencing a live Fluffy concert. Although, again, it's not about Fluffy.

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" is a fun, sweet, and predictable movie that has just enough heart to separate itself from all the recent teen dreck (the innumerable "American Pie" sequels, "Van Wilder," etc.). While it is far from a great teen movie, it's well worth a slot in the family film library.

Nick is played by Michael Cera ("Arrested Development," "Juno"), a good actor who has been accused of playing the same character in every movie and TV show: a smart, sweet, socially-befuddled romantic with a heart of gold and a slightly stammering delivery. Yes, Cera has yet to show much range, but it's hard to say anyone is better at what he does than he is. Nick has recently been dumped by his hottie girlfriend, Tris (Alexis Dziena) and has been reduced to making her mix CDs in an attempt to win her back.

Tris gives these pathetic missives a dismissive snort, but they catch the ear of Norah (Kat Dennings). Norah hangs with Tris because . . . well, it's not entirely clear, as the two girls hate each other. But she's impressed with this lovelorn, mysterious Nick who creates such amazing mix CDs. As we will learn over the course of the movie, it pays to pay attention to the music Norah likes (and it pays well).

Nick's gay friends try to snap him out of the dumps by telling him the famous underground band Where's Fluffy? is playing somewhere in NYC that evening. WF is one of those bands that drops hints as to where they will be playing, and half the fun is finding out where they'll be - you're the coolest kid in school if you can track them down and see a show. Norah, as a music devotee, is also on the prowl.

The movie tracks these two teens over the course of the evening as they work through standard teen crises, try to track a drunk girlfriend lost in the city, and realize that they are perfect for each other. This well-worn plot demands that the stars be on their game, and both Cera and Dennings give solid performances.

The movie also features a good soundtrack - perhaps not at the level of "Grosse Point Blank" or "Swingers," but still worth a listen.

A relatively tame film for teens these days - no gratuitous T&A and the screenplay aims for true humor rather that Stiffler-esque raunch. All in all, a good movie.

There's no need for a lengthy review, but I want to put my support in for this one. I was prepared to hate this movie. I was expecting either commercial idiocy or something really schmaltzy. I really didn't even want to watch it, but I love Kat Dennings - she was fantastic in Defendor. However, this movie took me by surprise. Yes, it is a cliche romantic comedy, with a predictable plot that we've all seen in innumerable incarnations before. But it is carried off with an earnestness, a wittiness, and a good hearted-ness that makes it all work.

Every actor completely embodies their role. Michael Cera's character is a toned-down version of the nervous wreck he usually plays, and it works. Kat is a revelation, utterly believable and genuine. The supporting cast is excellent, as well.

This isn't a gut-busting comedy like "40-Year-Old Virgin" or "Superbad", it is a lot more subdued. But it is also a lot more real and genuine- emotionally true to realistic characters that I, for one, connected with.

So don't go in expecting profound drama, or knee-slapping belly laughs. It's a small movie, but a charming one that will make you feel good.

Just as Nick's yellow Yugo must roll backwards before it can move forwards, so to must our hero make a few mistakes before he gets himself going the right direction. Although it's not the most original concept for a film (night on the town), this movie's strength rests in the realistic relationships between its teenaged characters (who love, manipulate, and take advantage of one another) and the ambiance of a night in NYC. There are enough summaries here to rely on, I will simply recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good flick about teenaged antics, young love, or indie music.

NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST is a treat for film lovers of all ages. It has gotten mixed reviews from the critics and I really don't understand it. I loved this film. It is a warm, tender, very funny and endearing story of one night in the life of a group of teenagers. Led by Michael Cera and Kat Dennings this superb cast does the awesome task of making these teen characters believable, pertinent to the current times and relatable to people of all ages. I am a 46 year old man and related as if I was one of them.

The basic beginning plot has Michael Cera still pining over his old girlfriend who dumped him. He keeps making her burned cds which she tosses and come into the hands of Norah aka Kat Dennings. Thus Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Nick is in a band with his best friends and all the guys are again believable and quite funny. Norah's best friend is the greatest comedy lift. The film is a teen film in the age of SUPERBAD and other such films. It even has Michael Cera who is in SUPERBAD as well as JUNO. Here his witty style of acting is intact but his character is also very different from his other films. He seems to reach a deeper level of vulnerability. Bottom line, this one night journey is one you will be very happy you took. This film is a love story, a friendship story and a general feel good film for the ages. You will care about these people and want to revisit them again. This film is a definite one to own.

And the blu ray version takes full advantage of all blu ray has to offer. I had just seen it in HD on cable and then purchased it in bluy ray. I watched it soon after and the oomph both the video and audio got from the transfer was exsquisite. The 1080p video transfer is crisp, colors are vibrant and the night scenes are striking. The true hd 5.1 audio provides the best accompanying soundtrack. Dialogue is strong and music is well utilized. The full presentation of this film in blu ray is of the highest standard.

Highly recommend. Put this film in, sit back and be prepared to be truly entertained as you experience a touching slice of life.

I think this movie is cute and has great music. The kind of movie I might want to buy and watch again, but it is not comparable, in my opinion to Almost Famous. Almost Famous is such a more interesting story...a 15 year old (Director Cameron Crowe) who goes on tour with a rock band (Black Sabbath, in real life) compared to a night watching two teenagers run around town looking for a band they love and getting over their exes? Really? I guess I can see the Michael Cera vs Patrick Fugit comparison though.

`Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist' follows Nick and Norah on one wild night in New York as they drive around trying to find a secret gig by a band called Wheres Fluffy?. Nick is trying to get over a broken relationship and Norah is being used by her ex and together they find a bit of romance and fun whilst listening to a pretty great soundtrack. This started off quite slow but soon had me chuckling out loud, especially at Norah's drunk friend, Caroline, who they lose and have to track down. This is a gentle film with no great surprises, but it is pretty good romantic comedy with out being too soppy or `chick flick`. Nick's friends are comical and the cast in general are fun to watch. At just under 90 minutes this isn't too long and makes for an easy going way to spend an evening, it's genuinely funny in parts and will leave you with a warm glow by the end.

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I guess as an adult this movie just wasn't meant for me. I wanted to see it after it got raves from critics, and there are quite a few teen movies that I do find entertaining. This one however was just boring. Very little in the way of funny. The actors are good, but the story was just luke warm. The movie just doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. Its not a great drama, but it lacks as a comedy. I might like it more if I was 20 years younger, but as an adult, it just wasn't that entertaining.