Welcome to an American teen sex comedy with a twist... or, more accurately, a Twisp. Be that as it may, this is a film that differentiates itself from the inhabitants of modern cinema’s most nauseating genre by adding a touch of mock pretension, a dash of cynicism, a dollop of absurdist humour and, most uniquely, a spoonful of schizophrenia.

Youth In Revolt takes a while to really hit its stride, with the opening 15 minutes dragging infuriatingly. Nonetheless, although slightly laboured it’s useful as a set-up and obviously works to provide some character development for the main protagonist, Michael Cera’s Nick Twisp. Not that any development is necessary, since any cinemagoer who has avoided a full frontal lobotomy will know exactly what to expect from a Cera role; specifically, a shy, nerdy, soft-spoken milquetoast. Michael Cera is cleary going to be typecast til the end of his days. Expect to see the guy playing an awkward, loverlorn teenage geek when he’s in his 40s.

So far, so banal. However, once Nick crosses paths with the ‘girl of his dreams’ Sheeni (played by lovely Portia Doubleday in her first major role) during a vacation, the pace begins to quicken. After the holiday ends, it becomes clear to nice-guy Nick that in order to see Sheeni again he must concoct a Machiavellian alter-ego whose violence, destruction and all-round nastiness will ensure that he is banished from home. Inevitably, this leads to some serious ructions with various characters and Nick being on the run from the law.

There are some neat turns from a highly talented supporting cast, including Steve Buscemi as Nick’s dad, Jean Smart as Nick’s promiscuous mother Estelle, the Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis as Estelle’s gratuitously obnoxious boyfriend Jerry, Ray Liotta as her subsequent beau, Fred Willard as bleeding-heart liberal activist Mr. Ferguson and Justin Long as the mellowed-out hallucinogen-dispensing brother of Sheeni. Even so, the best and most amusing performance comes from Adhir Kalyan as the verbose, eloquent, libidinous Vijay.
 

This is an original film, no doubt about that, and as such is definitely a cut above what we come to expect when we think of teen romcoms. The quirky humour and surreal storyline make this a sort of teenage Life Less Ordinary. Ultimately, the movie comes across as sophisticated and edgy, but is clever enough to make fun of such pretensions and, in any case, doesn’t shirk from the immature sex jokes that are the bread-and-butter of this type of film.

Youth In Revolt might not be a laugh-a-minute ride, but it’s just so lovably imaginative that you can’t help but revel in its anarchic attitude.

- Sebastian Clare

Youth in Revolt opens in cinemas nationwide on the 5th of February