By Lisa DiCarlucci

Two music loving teenagers explore New York City at night with a motley crew of friends in two uniquely busted modes of transportation all the while falling in love with each other and the city. Set to a playlist that is all at once sad, revealing, sweet and romantic, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” will steal your heart.

The movie opens with heartbroken Nick (Michael Cera) pining over the loss of his ex-girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena) who viewers later find out is two-timing him. There is an immediate sensitivity to his grief because Cera plays a suffering, sentimental teen so very well. After a quick introduction to Nick’s heartache, Norah (Kat Dennings) is introduced, a classmate of Tris’, and the only one who seems to appreciate the mix CD’s Nick desperately burns for Tris in hopes of winning back her affection.

The two star-crossed lovers are drawn to downtown New York City because the infamous band “Where’s Fluffy?” is rumored to be playing a mystery show. Their search for the band leads Nick and Norah to an awkward introduction, and then the journey of a lifetime with a lively cast of characters. Norah’s best friend Caroline (Ari Graynor) loses the battle with alcohol early on and when placed in the care of Nick’s delightfully homosexual band mates, makes a run for it under the impression she is being kidnapped. Her adventures in Penn Station alone are a guaranteed laugh as Graynor proves to be a true scene stealer.

The sexuality of the movie is subdued with the innocence it deserves, with the exception of a near strip tease moment from Tris.

With the exception of Gaynor’s over the top drunken antics, the cast maintains an air of composure (though sometimes bordering on dispassion) despite unsettling circumstances. Considering how dramatic and emotional teenagers have typically been portrayed, these young men and women show concern and strife without ever allowing the emotions to become bigger than themselves.

Cera, late of “Juno” and “Arrested Development,” and Dennings, have instant chemistry on screen and it is delightful to watch them pal around together.

“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” immediately transports the audience back into the realm of high school emotions. The sense of wanting everything and nothing in particular at the same time is translated through very real characters that fall in love, but don’t quite know what to do with it. Nick and Norah’s romance, though only witnessed in the span of one night, will charm you with the idea that love can find you just when you need it, at a time when everything is possible.

At the end of the film, Norah asks Nick if he’s disappointed that this is all the time turned into. He looks her in the eyes and says “This is it,” and really that’s what this film comes down to. The fact is when you are young sometimes it can be that simple; the adventure of a lifetime doesn’t take more than good music, good friends, and a little romance to set the mood. Audiences will leave appreciating (or yearning for) their youth and hoping desperately for a night and a playlist of their own.

Michael Cera and Kat Dennings play the title characters “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” a film about two teens who find love during a wild adventure in New York. (allmoviephoto.com)

(latimes.com)