"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" (2008) - Movie Review

There is a gum, Yugo car and a band named Fluffy roaming around like a floating movie memorabilia in the “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” which does not add any comic, excitement or suspense but tries hard to be a simple romance indie flick. The best thing what the film does which becomes its downfall is their consistent inch of hope creation leaving it unfinished as they proceed to the next scene. It seems to bring smiles and puts those pebbles of love drops but it stays there and I mean it just stays there, never moves.

In that one long night in the glittering city of New York Nick (Michael Cera) with his gay band mates Dev (Rafi Gavron) and Thom (Aaron Yoo) meets Norah (Kat Dennings) with her best drunk friend Caroline (Ari Graynor). Nick has a “Sarah Marshall” as Peter had in that movie which out here would be Tris (Alexis Dziena) for whom he consistently provides mixed CD which has fallen in to the hands of Norah becoming great fan of it. Nick’s friends decides Norah to be his apt love interest and hence set them up taking care of drunken Caroline whirl winding in an endless night.

Let us predict the following in the film and I know you all could agree with me on the coming points as not something of a spoiler. Tris will be superficial witch having insane jealousy obsession with Nick when he goes with his accidental patch up girl Norah. Norah will similarly have a secret past which would lure the cloud of doubts for Nick. Nick cannot get over Tris and both have a choice to make and you know the drill. Every body knows that and director is aware of it too. Hence how it is reached becomes the deciding factor. You constantly smile at the film but you come out with nothing. Something happened but not complete. It is a good tale but nothing out of the normal and not definitely the funniest film we have seen lately.

Michael Cera is becoming the nerdy kid and in here he tries to step a little bit out of that yet he seems to be playing more of the same. Dennings does similar she did in “Charlie Bartlett” but she appears to get the beat of the role pretty good. Still it is not tough for her to get type casted in coming days if she is not going to be wary of it. For a title involving current trend in music and the whole gang going crazy for a band, the soundtrack is not as impressive. It is good but not great.

The sub plot with Caroline is a series of wannabe awkward comedy working otherwise. Ari Graynor while giving her best she could, cannot play more than the material has offered. With her gum going to unspoken and unknown places to be reverted back to her mouth and then jumps off to many other people does not nauseate us but feel indifferent and unmoved by the frantic actions.

Am I getting out of substance to discuss mediocre run of the mill films? Lately I have not seen any new films which have entirely made me move or made me feel in noticeable quantity. I remember the same time last year to have viewed some of the best films of 2007 and a contented heart to write about it. This year while I wait for those award winners hitting the theatres, I feel a little letdown by so far I have seen. Hence when you go with nothing to expect in films like “Nick and Norah’s..”, it is more disappointing where we have to settle down for a placid attempt. The trend from making an indie flick has become into aspiring to make it as an indie flick with a regular tone of romance is sad.

“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” would smoothen many and would also be called a pleasant film. It is indeed pleasant since it does not amplify its emotions rather underplays it purposefully. In the attempt of getting “sweet” films, the emotions are true and running high but in a much subtle and sophisticated presentation. There does not lay that sensation of making an effort to play it down. “Nick and Norah’s…” is a radio hit which withers right away when it is over.