DVD Report

Jason Katzman

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist has an unassuming charm, but the film's unassuming charm isn't immediately notable as the characteristic that makes it special. Seemingly, there's an endless genre of teen films with witty dialogue that use their soundtracks to amp the hip factor, but Nick and Norah comes across with a profound sincerity that makes it increasingly likable.

See, on the surface, the film's story isn't all that complicated. Nick (Michael Cera) is in a band and he's just been dumped by the sexy Tris (Alexi Dziena). He's been sending mix CD's to her with hopes of winning her back, but to no avail. Tris' friend Norah (Kat Dennings) thinks the tapes are the best mixes she's ever heard. Naturally, Nick and Norah end up spending most of the evening together, driving around in the attempt to find a secret show by their favorite band. By the end, Nick realizes how much he likes Norah. In the awkward beginning, he ignores her like all misguided boys do.

Watching a bunch of kids driving all over New York looking for their favorite band isn't much of a plot, but Nick and Norah makes the most of it with a lot of clever storytelling devices and fun character quirks. Nick drives a yellow Yugo that gets mistaken for a cab. And a Yugo is intrinsically funny, anyway. Nick's bandmates, who are all gay, lose Norah's friend, Caroline (Ari Graynor). Caroline is wasted through much of the film, yet she somehow manages to keep the same piece of gum. In fact, one of the film's best, if most disgusting, scenes involves Caroline's recovery of said gum.

The sexuality of Nick's friends is also handled very well. And I write about it mostly because there's nothing to write about, other than it's a friendship in which familiarity breeds humor even if it's at the expense of sexual preference. It's also interesting to watch the film downplay Dennings' looks. She has an ample bosom, as they say, and it's focused on briefly, so that attention is actually taken away from it. It’s impressive not only how that the film relates to us, but also that the characters relate to the world. Norah is sexy, but doesn't know how to use it yet. Finally, there's the interesting touch of Norah's family wealth and the occupation of her father, which is revealed at an opportune time, but not made so much of an issue that it ever becomes a distraction.