'Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist' review

Michael Cera, Ari Graynor and Kat Dennings

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During one wild night in New York, puppy dog nice guy Nick (Michael Cera) plays a concert with his band, tries to get over his gorgeous ex, Tris (Alexis Dziena), develops a spark with less conventionally attractive fellow indie-music lover, Norah (Kat Dennings), and attempts to locate Norah’s drunken mess friend Caroline (Ari Graynor), all while hoping to find the location of a secret show by everyone’s favorite (fictional) band, Where’s Fluffy?. Featuring cameos by Jay Baruchel, Seth Myers and Andy Samberg.

Big question: Can director Peter Sollett’s (“Raising Victor Vargas”) teen comedy, based on the novel of the same name, help launch Cera farther into movie stardom without turning him into the same sensitive, hands-in-pockets, hoodie-wearing guy he always plays?

Skip it: Like “Can’t Hardly Wait” updated for “Juno” fans, “Nick and Norah” mistakes manic randomness and hipster name-dropping for something fun and unforgettable. Well, that's unless you think the most hilarious and sincere love stories feature people screaming while driving wildly, a totally tossed-in gay Christmas revue and a teen girl retrieving gum from dirty toilet water and putting it back in her mouth. Cera's "Juno" character would probably hate this movie.

Catch it: If you, like Nick, think you will find closure by sending your ex a mix CD called, “Road to Closure, Vol. 12.” Good luck with that.

Bottom line: Those merely looking for a “musical soulmate” may think the only connection Nick and Norah need is music. (Great, since it's the only one they really have.) But despite Cera’s usual appeal, the movie feels mopey and oddly unromantic, trying to combine two people who might in fact be too similar to be together infinitely, or even for the next week.

Bonus: Norah sarcastically wonders if Tris wears “I Cheat On People” fragrance by Calvin Klein. That would make those scoundrels so much easier to spot!

Video: Watch the review of 'Nick and Norah'

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