This is an offbeat American Pie with more hints of psychological disturbance and less masturbation.  Ridiculously overblown, the film takes ever more bizarre turns that mimick the nature of the adolescent lurve that sparks it off.  It all begins with the standard ‘I’m your kooky narrator’ spiel which inevitably includes niche interests (Sinatra) and the revelation that our protaganist, Nick Twisp, is, on some level, a wee bit miserable (sixteen-year-old virgin).  That is, until he meets the delightful Sheeni who lets him rub suntan lotion onto her legs and doesn’t even bat an eyelid when he has the obvious teenage response to such personal administrations.  All too soon the sweet romantics are separated and Nick is left with nothing more than a bad boy French alter-ego, Francois, to ensure him and his lass get back to together. 

Not liking Michael Cera as Nick would be akin to kicking a puppy: only a scoundrel of the darkest order could oblige.  He plays the slightly geeky but adorable protaganist down to a tee so, despite its other faults, you at least want to play along until its conclusion.  The addition of Francois is where things start to go wrong as the alter-ego gives the impression you’ve stumbled into Fight Club for dummies – even if he does have some killer chat-up lines, “I want to wrap your legs around my head and wear you like the crown that you are.”

The acts of teenage rebellion that Francois makes Nick pursue in order to reclaim Sheeni do provide some colourful distraction.  We alternate from scenes of explosive destruction to parental drug-taking (unintentional). I watched with delight as Sheeni’s mushroom-addled parents made finger food of their dinner.

However, I can’t help feeling Juno also did what Youth in Revolt tries to – quirky, indie comedy with a heart – but it just did it better.  The humour here is packaged as a witty spin on slapstick but this doesn’t always live up to the intelligent tag-line.  One particularly shoddy attempt was a move from a “mindfuck” to a more “literal fuck”.  Ha ha indeed.  Sweet and amusing but ultimately only half of the alternative movie it tries to be.