Tad Shocking At Times, But Overall Elightening Ride!

Nick & Norah's characters where taken from Nick & Nora Charles, the characters in the 'Thin Man' series of films based on William Dashiel Hammett's book. This quirky film has its moments that make you think how shocking life really can be. Oddness here is magnified in this microcosmic romantic comedy about people about to come of age and somehow learn how to grow into maturity. This is absolutely the quirkiest film I've seen in a while. While cute at times, the preponderance of insanity in this film make for an entertaining new version of the good ole' "American Graffiti" of many's grandfather days and the Fonzie craze.

The movie opens in Nick's (Michael Cera) room, the screen pans the scene as Nick leaves a message on his ex-girlfriend Tris' (Alexis Dziena) answering machine.

Actually, after all the trouble, I don't believe he was successful since he pushes the wrong button on his cellphone and erases it all. Nick's ring-tone is "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure. (The lyrics tell the story of a man who has given up trying to regain the love of a girl that he has lost, and tries to disguise his true emotional state by "laughing, hiding the tears in [his] eyes, 'cause boys don't cry".)


Nick tells her that he is leaving the last of his mixed cds on her doorstep.
His infactuation with her is obvious, yet Triss doesn't really seem to care. Nick is heartbroken that they broke up and wants to know why it happened especially why on his b-day. The next scene then goes to Sacred Heart High School in Englewood, NJ. where we are now introduced to Norah (Kat Dennings).

Actually, the film originally began at The Jerkoff's show where Norah first meets Nick. All prior scenes, including Nick leaving a voice-mail on Tris' phone, the scenes with Norah, Caroline, and Tris at the Catholic school were re-shoots filmed 6 months after principal production had ended.

A funny quirk to this film shows up in the trailer where it actually shows an alternate version of the club scene kiss with Nick and Norah. When Tris comes up to ask them how they met - it is Nick who tells Tris that they have the same dentist. In the actual movie, Norah is the one that tells this to Tris.

Several exceptional pieces of information about the film and the characters are important to discuss. Norah is supposedly a Jewish girl attending a Catholic high school. This is explained in the book that Norah wants to attend any school Caroline does, but due to Caroline's obnoxious behavior, she gets trown out of every school she's attended and is only accepted at a Sacred Heart.

It's really hilarious to learn that Caroline (Ari Graynor) improvised her whole speech at the Port Authority when Kevin Corrigan decided he wouldn't say a word during the "Sandwich" scene.

There are several cameos in this film that deserve mentioning. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, (the authors of the novel) are in the background of the Veselka diner scene, sitting at a table. Eddie Kaye Thomas appears as Jesus. Devendra Banhart plays a guy in the deli.

This film attempts to delve into sexuality which sometimes makes the audience uncomfortable, but I'll have to say that, if we fail to take chances in life, then we miss many opportunities to have self assurance about the things we really want in life. Although the film may fail to draw a cult crowd from other older generations, I can be certain that X, Y, Z, and ZZ generations will like this film.

I'm going to give this film a 4/5 for Enlightenment.

Love letter to 80's teen comedies

I probably like this movie more than I should. It's by far a more mature story and better movie than a lot of the other contemporary teen comedies like Superbad, Juno or American Pie but still very much in the vein of Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink or Breakfast Club in it's revelry of teenage sex and booze.

Underneath it all though is a really charming and funny love story between the main characters who are star crossed lovers connected through circumstance and a chance meeting.

cool movie

Its a cute indie movie, good for teens and young adults and other people. Good music. Michael Cera is funny and makes you laugh alot. Why does ebay make us write these things.

Pretty Good Flick

Not a bad movie especially if you enjoy the humor of " George Michael" who plays one of the main characters in this film. The movie takes a group of kids around town looking for a secret band performance while running into curve balls along the way. I would give this movie 6 of 10.

nick and norahs

like the music and the story line good. very good date movie for all ages. I decided to buy it because i love romantic comedies and its cheaper to buy it then rent it