Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

I had a friggin' blast watching this movies. It's a video game/comic geek's dream. Fast-talking, high-flying with unbelievable effects. Just fun times.

Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a very poor bass player for Sex Bob-Omb. They have a hard time getting gigs and making any real money. Scott is also coming off a rough break up and begins dating a high-schooler named Knives. Before long though, he sees the literal girl of his dreams in Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). He basically stalks her until she finally agrees to "hang out" with him, leaving Knives in a lurch. Before they've really even started dating, Scott is greeted by Ramona's 1st Evil Ex-Boyfriend. After defeating him, Scott comes find he has 6 other Evil Exes (including Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman) to beat before Ramona is all his. The Exes continue to get harder and harder and now he's trying to decide whether it's even worth it at all.

This movie was fun as hell. Be prepared for fast moving action and dialogue that keeps coming and coming. There are also plenty of video game references to go around. You do need to escape reality a bit because they are living in this video game world where people glide around and burst into coins as they die. That being said, the dialogue was a bit weak at times, but that's to be expected from a comic book movie. Cera was perfect for this role but the MVP of this movie was Kieran Culkin as Scott's gay roommate Wallace. Every time he said something I was laughing. Go see this if you want just a great time. Grade: A-

Paper Heart (2009)

This whole movie, I kept saying how much I liked the quirkiness of the film. In the end, this movie was just ok.

A semi-documentary, semi-love story, this movie follows actress Charlyne Yi in her trying to search for love, while also not believing in it. She asks people what their thoughts on the subject are and what she can do if she ever falls for someone. She also interviews her friends like Demitri Martin and Seth Rogen to see if she is lovable. While at a party with her director, Charlyne meets Michael Cera. After first avoiding the situation, they eventually start dating and the tone of the movie changes. Can their budding love perservere with a group of cameramen following their every move?

It had its moments and was a very unique movie, but after the ending, it just felt alright. Yi and Cera had an odd relationship but there was a chemistry there. The interludes where some of the interview subjects describe their first experience with true love were really good but I wish the film had more laugh-out-loud moments. I can't recommend this, but I'm sure this movie has its audience.

Year One (2009)

So, there was one thing missing from this comedy: Comedy. It just wasn't that funny. Apart from a few one-liners and some sight gags, nothing worthwhile.

Zed and Oh (Jack Black and Michael Cera) are a couple of hunter-gatherers in a pre-civilization tribe. After Zed eats from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Zed is banished from the group and Oh follows him. On their journey, they come across Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac, and Sodom and Gomorroh. Everything begins to intertwine and it's not that hard to figure out.

This just was not that funny, which is disappointing considering the amount of funny people in the movie. Everyone from Harold Ramis to David Cross to Paul Rudd to Bill Hader, should have made this movie watchable, but it was not to be. Hank Azaria as Abraham was the funniest part of the movie, but not enough to redeem it.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

I had fun watching this movie. It may have gotten a little more credit than it deserved as a definition movie for this generation, but it was still a good movie. Not to mention, it has an awesome soundtrack.

Michael Cera plays Nick, an overemotional musician whose girlfriend just dumped him and he's having a hard time getting over her (12 mix-tapes hard time). Kat Dennings plays Norah, a rich girl who wants to find happiness without people realizing that she's rich. Done before? Yes. But this was the hipper, younger version of a story that you've seen before.

Both of the actors come out of their shell in this movie. Cera is used to playing the neurotic, pathetic type and he's found his nitch. This role was less neuortic and pathetic, but still had those elements. This is Dennings first real starring role, and she does a great job. The Apatow crew (Cera, Rogen, Hill, Segel, etc.) may have found an actress to keep up with them.