Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Directed by Peter Sollett
Starring Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Jay Baruchel, Alexis Dziena
Rated PG-13
Release date: October 3, 2008

Some movies just stay on the screen when they are through, but Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist transcends that norm as its radiant truth and naturalistic approach cuts deep through our toughest layer of skin that isn’t penetrated very easily. The characters jump off the screen and suggest we hug them. They don’t have to ask twice. The outcome hasn’t been demonstrated since Almost Famous captivated our emotions in 2000. Each film has similar main characters. Each boy is normal in his appearance, but is thrown into a world that some rock stars and rich men would kill for. It’s with these characters that each film bases its whole premise around; simple and lovable. You can’t teach that in acting school.

There comes a time when a movie achieves intimacy with its audience, and hence, that is how it acquires greatness. First time director Peter Sollett — adapting from a Cohn and Levithan novel — creates magic. He manages to establish a strong enough bond (strongest since Brokeback Mountain) that allows us to realize what we are watching is not only comedy done to perfection, but it can also double as high end drama; almost like a monk who reaches his highest pinnacle during his religious learnings. When comedy can do this, it is hard to beat.