Drama,Comedy,Romance
United States of America
Youth in Revolt is a 2009 coming-of-age comedy film directed by Miguel Arteta and starring Michael Cera in the lead role. The film is an adaptation of the 1993 novel of the same name by C.D. Payne.
Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) is a socially awkward and sexually frustrated teenager who is forced to move to a trailer park with his mother, Estelle (Jean Smart), and her dim-witted boyfriend, Jerry (Zach Galifianakis), after their house is destroyed in a fire. Nick is immediately smitten with his pretty neighbor, Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday), who plays records by French crooners and dreams of running away to Paris.
When Sheeni tells Nick that she's dating a pretentious Berkeley student named Trent (Jonathan B. Wright), Nick decides to create a "supplementary persona" named Francois Dillinger, a smooth-talking rebel who wears black and smokes constantly. Through Francois, Nick plans to become the bad boy that Sheeni desires and win her heart.
Nick's plans spiral out of control when Francois starts a string of violent and destructive antics, including setting fire to Jerry's car and stealing from his mother's boyfriend. As Nick's actions become more extreme, he begins to question whether the ends justify the means and if he really wants to become the person that Sheeni desires.
Youth in Revolt received mixed reviews from critics and was a modest box office success. The film's humor is often dark and satirical, and Michael Cera delivers a standout performance as both Nick and Francois. The film also features an impressive supporting cast, including Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard, Ray Liotta, and Justin Long.
