Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Michael Cera is turning out to be quite a geek hero on the movie screen, first in Juno and now as Nick in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, a cute teen love story with a hopelessly hip soundtrack. Nick, the only straight guy in his punk band, is having a difficult time getting over his ex, Tris (coincidence that it rhymes with priss?). But a gig and a secret show by his favorite band pull him out of bed and into New York City, where he meets Norah (Kat Dennings) and the shenanigans, which include a drunk friend, a drag bar and two exes, begin. What makes the movie sweet is the awkward, blossoming attraction between the two title characters. And their adventure, their search—first for the secret show and then for a lost friend—is as crazy as a night in the city can prove to be. It’s nice, too, to see the main characters forgo booze (even if they keep company with a soon-to-be 17-year-old alcoholic). It adds to their innocence, and the pure romantic mood that brings magic to the movie. Aside from the fact that the storyline might have made more sense if the characters had been a bit older, Nick and Norah is a sweet movie with a sweet message—that there is such a thing as a soul mate. Rated PG-13