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"NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST" (2008) (Michael Cera, Kat Dennings) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Mild Moderate None None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None None Moderate Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor None Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Comedy: While longing for his ex-girlfriend, a teen ends up spending the night traveling around New York City with a girl he's just met who's trying to find her intoxicated friend. PLOT: Nick (MICHAEL CERA) is a normal teenage guy -- save for the fact that he's the lone straight member of the gay band The Jerk-Offs that's comprised of Thom (AARON YOO), Dev (RAFI GAVRON) and new follower Lethario (JONATHAN B. WRIGHT) -- who's fixated on and longing for his ex-girlfriend. She's Tris (ALEXIS DZIENA) who's grown tired of him continually sending her CD mixes of songs and his verbalized thoughts about her. Her schoolmate Norah (KAT DENNINGS), however, thinks the mixes are good even if she's never met their creator. Yet she eventually does just that, albeit by dumb luck, when Tris is showing off her new boyfriend and making fun of Norah for not having one, considering that her ex, Tal (JAY BARUCHEL), is now just a "friend with benefits." In a moment of desperation, she spots Nick and asks if he'll be her boyfriend for five minutes, all to get Tris off her back. His band-mates think they'd make a cute couple and hate seeing him pine away for Tris who they can't stand, so they agree to take Norah's drunk friend Caroline (ARI GRAYNOR) home so that Nick and Norah can get to know each other. As they spend the rest of the night and early morning together bickering and traversing their way through New York City looking for their favorite band's next guerilla performance and then Caroline when she ends up missing, the two teens start to develop feelings for each other and must decide who they want in their romantic lives. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? It's a good bet many teens and some tweens will be interested in it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For mature thematic material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MICHAEL CERA plays a standard teen except for the fact that he's the only straight guy in an otherwise gay band. But his attention is on Tris, his ex, and he's still fixated on and heartbroken over her dumping him. While spending much of the film longing for her, he ends up developing feelings for Norah with whom he briefly fools around at the end of the film (giving her first orgasm). He also uses profanity, some of it briefly strong. KAT DENNINGS plays the daughter of a rich father who can thus get into most any club she wants, usually to end up watching her friend Caroline get drunk. Witty and sarcastic, she pretends that Nick is her boyfriend just to get Tris off her back, but then slowly starts to develop feelings toward him. She uses some profanity and fools around with him at the end of the film. ALEXIS DZIENA plays Nick's snooty ex-girlfriend who dumped him and now wants nothing to do with him. That is, until she thinks he and Norah are an item and thus has a jealous change of heart. ARI GRAYNOR plays Norah's best friend who drinks a lot and is very intoxicated for much of the film. AARON YOO and RAFI GAVRON play Nick's gay band-mates who try to make sure that Nick and Norah end up together since they can't stand Tris and his fixation on her. They appear to be intoxicated in one scene. JAY BARUCHEL plays Norah's ex-boyfriend and current "friend with benefits" who tries to get back with her, mainly because of who her father is. JONATHAN B. WRIGHT plays the band's newest gay fan who ends up traveling with them during the night and early morning. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated romantic comedy. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue (including that related to a gay band) is present, while a teenage couple fools around (mostly heard from off-screen, including her orgasm) and a miscellaneous couple does the same in the back of a car (partially seen/heard).. A teen does a highly sexual dance to try to entice the boyfriend she dumped but wants back, while she's seen in revealing lingerie in a fantasy sequence. There's some brief hitting of others as well as some slapstick style material. Various instances of crude humor are present, as are some bad attitudes and some behavior that might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Various teenage characters drink, including one who's quite intoxicated from doing so, while brief smoking occurs. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's handheld camera footage in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE About going out for the night, Norah tells Caroline the latter has to promise not to get drunk and leave her alone. Caroline feigns innocence and asks when she did that. Caroline empties liquor from a flask into a sports drink bottle (or the equivalent). Teens, including Caroline (and maybe older people) drink at a concert. Later, Caroline is very intoxicated, and she's referred to as "drunkzilla." Nick asks Norah if she wants to get a drink, but she says she doesn't drink. When Nick and Norah return to the band's van, the guys inside are acting wildly and ask the two if they've been drinking (they have not). Young people drink in a club. Miscellaneous people have drinks in a club. People have drinks in a club. People drink in a club. BLOOD/GORE There's a running gag about where a piece of chewing gum travels. Those are included below. While drunk, Caroline kisses a guy and we then see that gum stretched between their now separated mouths. While intoxicated, Caroline belches and reacts to the foul smell. The belching occurs in later scenes as well. Norah states that she has to pee. The gay band members throw out possible names for their band, including "Sh*t sandwich." While intoxicated, Caroline sneezes on the window of a station attendee booth, leaving droplets everywhere. She then sees her gum stuck on the glass, retrieves it, and puts it back into her mouth. While intoxicated, Caroline belches and then appears as if she's going to be sick, but then isn't, at least right then. Shortly thereafter, we see two views of her vomiting into a toilet. Her phone and then gum fall into that same toilet (filled with thick, foul-looking water and other material), and after a moment of thinking, she puts her hand down into that and fishes out the phone. After another moment of thinking, she puts her hand in there again and finds her gum. After yet another moment of contemplation, she then puts that gum back into her mouth. About where they might find Caroline, Norah says that her friend likes to "barf" in the same places, so they go to a market where the man there is chipping frozen vomit out of an open top freezer. Not realizing where it's been, Norah puts Caroline's used gum in her own mouth. That eventually makes its way into Nick's mouth following them kissing. About being in a famous recording studio, Nick says he's going to throw up (but doesn't). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Nick admits he skipped school and took a "personal day." We hear that Tris cheated on Nick long before breaking up with him, and she now callously discards the mix CDs he makes for her. She wants nothing to do with him until she thinks that Norah is his new girlfriend and then works to get back into his life. Norah and Tris are schoolmates, but don't like each other and trade snarky insults. Norah realizes that the other band members and Lethario are gay. Nick confirms that, and referring to those guys taking a very intoxicated Caroline home, adds that if anyone is going to get raped, it's going to be a guy (some viewers might not like that joke). The term "retarded" is used (not about a person) and that may occur again later in the film. Until they eventually realize they're attracted to each other, Nick and Norah quarrel at various times and don't get along and/or get on each other's nerves. A person refers to Norah as a "frigid JAP" (presumably meaning a Jewish American Princess). Nick and Tal trade insults, with the former saying the latter is "two penises short of a Shania Twain imposter band." While intoxicated, Caroline sees an actor dressed as Jesus, smoking a cigarette, and states, "I've found Jesus" (some viewers might not like that joke). Tal is only interested in Norah for access to her music producer father. When the bar tab arrives, he's shocked, and asks Norah to take care of that (through her father's connections). She says she's going to, but doesn't and leaves. Nick abandons Tris out in the middle of nowhere while she's doing a sexy dance in his car's headlights to try to entice him back to her. When Tal won't leave Norah alone, Nick shoves him and Tal shoves him back. When Nick gives him an "or else" ultimatum, Tal sarcastically replies, "What, your merry band of men will blow me?" FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Sh*tty," "Sh*t-sandwich," "You're sh*t out of luck," "We are the jerk-offs," "You dirty little slut, you're practically blowing him with your eyes," "I just made out with Tris' sloppy seconds," "It's better than the uni-boob," "Is definitely worth the underwire (bra)," "If anyone's going to get raped, it's gonna be a guy" (Nick about a drunken Caroline being safe in a van full of gay guys), "D*ck-ache," "The tight ends," what sounded like "Suck my balls," "24-hour hump-fest," "Deck the balls," "Gay-lord," "Poor bastard," "Mo," "Drunkzilla," "Unlock the door, bitch," "We're all girls here," "Hoboken, no jokin,'" "Retarded," "The goody bag at your pity party," "Are you crazy?" "Complete bitch," "Douche-bag," "Frigid JAP" (presumably meaning Jewish American Princess), "Chick's flown the coop," "Fistful of assholes," "Dance-wich" (being surrounded by dancers), "Crapper," "Hey, bitch," "I found Jesus," "My hetero-heroine," "Do you think Israel is ready for all this Jew-fire?" "What the hell?" and "You asshole." Nick admits he skipped school and took a "personal day." Caroline empties liquor from a flask into a sports drink bottle (or the equivalent). She and other teens are then seen drinking. We see graffiti in a bathroom. Nick and Norah dance in a club, with them doing the pedal dance (hands inches apart, moving in a synchronized fashion), and then him giving her the "blow dryer" (playfully tussling her hair on either side of her head). We see a shirtless guy doing all sorts of acrobatic dancing in front of his favorite band. We see miscellaneous graffiti. As the song "You Sexy Thing" plays (and repeats the lyric along with other sexually related material) Tris gets out of the car and does a very sexy and sexualized dance (clothed) for Nick, akin to what a stripper would do such as bending over, shaking and slapping her butt (including a close-up view of that), squatting and spreading her legs, etc. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Some songs had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing objectionable material. A song has the line, "Let's make a porno." A song had a line that sounded like "I want to screw you man." A song repeats the line "You sexy thing" and includes "Making love to me" (from "You Sexy Thing"). PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 8 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("hook up" and a possible song use of "screw"), 1 slang term using male genitals ("d*ck"), 1 for breasts ("boob"), 5 asses (3 used with "hole"), 2 hells, 1 crap, 1 damn, 8 uses of "Oh my God," 3 of "God," 2 of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "My God," "Oh dear God" and "Oh Jesus." SEX/NUDITY Some songs have sexually related lyrics. See that category for more details. We see a photo of Tris in a bikini top, holding what looks like a cigarette, all while wearing a bunny head. Nick's gay band (he's the only straight member) has just changed their name to "The Jerk-Offs." We see Nick in his boxers. Dev strips off his shirt and thus is shirtless during a concert performance. About a guy Norah is eyeing, Caroline exclaims, "Oh my God. You dirty little slut, you're practically blowing him with your eyes." Norah then states that you can't "blow" anyone with your eyes, but then thinks of Caroline and changes her mind. Tris shows cleavage. Nick imagines Tris reclining in revealing lingerie (showing cleavage, her bare lower back, and lots of leg, including with the camera going up her body). He then imagines the two of them playfully wrestling on a bed. To save face, Norah tells Tris that she has a boyfriend. She then spots Nick, asks him if he'll be her boyfriend for a few minutes, and then passionately kisses him. When she then realizes that he's Tris' ex, she's horrified and states, "I just made out with Tris' sloppy seconds." While drunk, Caroline kisses a guy and we then see her gum stretched between their now separated mouths. Trying to fix up Nick and Norah, Dev has Norah join him in the band's van. He pulls out a sexy bra for her, saying they need to get her out of her sports bra (which she says it isn't) and "We're all girls here" (since he's gay). We then see her finishing getting redressed (nothing explicit is seen, and he was averting his eyes) in her low-cut top that shows a lot of cleavage. He's pleased with the change and states that it's better than the previous "uni-boob" and that Nick is "definitely worth the underwire." Still wearing that top, Norah shows lots of cleavage in various scenes after that. When Nick asks Lethario his name, the latter suggestively replies it's whatever he (Nick) wants it to be. Lethario carries a very intoxicated Caroline over his shoulder, and with her short skirt riding up, we see a partial panty view. Norah realizes that the other band members and Lethario are gay. Nick confirms that, and referring to those guys taking a very intoxicated Caroline home, adds that if anyone is going to get raped, it's going to be a guy. A miscellaneous couple think that Nick's car is a cab and pile into the backseat. There, they start passionately making out, with lots of visible tongue, zipper sounds and comments of it feeling good coming from back there as Nick and Norah try to make small talk in the front. After the couple is done and exits, Nick tells them how much it will cost and then informs Norah that he charged a little extra for the clean-up, sarcastically stating that's going to be fun (while looking into the backseat, as does Norah with a nervous smile on her face). The gay band members throw out possible names for their band, including "D*ck-ache" and "The Tight Ends." A person refers to Norah as a "frigid JAP" (presumably meaning a Jewish American Princess). Tal suddenly kisses Norah (his former girlfriend and now "friend with benefits"). Nick and Tal trade insults, with the former saying the latter is "two penises short of a Shania Twain imposter band." We see a shirtless guy doing all sorts of acrobatic dancing in front of his favorite band. About Tal, Nick asks if he's Norah's friend "with benefits" (meaning non-committal sex), and she says he is. Thom says that most bands are about sex and pain, but that the Beatles were about love, with their first song being "I Want to Hold Your Hand." He then holds Nick's hand, while a lesbian couple then walks by, hand in hand, and smile at the two of them. Thom then adds that people don't want a "24 hour hump-fest." Tris tells Norah that the word on the street is that the latter has never had an orgasm. Norah says she can have one, and has probably had one million, but then states how one is supposed to know. A miscellaneous man who's heard their conversation interjects, "Oh, you'd know." While intoxicated, Caroline isn't sure of her location, but says she's seen an altar boy with no pants on (not seen). One of the gay band members realizes that's from an all gay Christmas review. The group then arrives there and sees various guys in drag on the stage doing a gay version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (with sexually related lyrics, while there's a comment about other songs performed, such as "Deck the balls"). While searching for Caroline, Nick encounters some homeless guys who approach him, with one asking if he's ever "hooked up" with a dog. Nick then runs off. While Nick drives, we see Tris' foot up along his face, with her then pawing all over him from the backseat. She then tells him, "You wouldn't have to get over me if you were still under me." As she continues kissing on him, he seems flustered and states she's sending mixed signals. She then takes his hand and places it on her clothed breast to show she isn't. As the song "You Sexy Thing" plays (and repeats the lyric along with other sexually related material) she gets out of the car and does a very sexy and sexualized dance (clothed) for him, akin to what a stripper would do such as bending over, shaking and slapping her butt (including a close-up view of that), squatting and spreading her legs, etc. She also climbs up onto the hood of his car and kisses his windshield in front of his face, leaving lipstick lip marks there. As all of this occurs, he thinks about the fun he's had with Norah that night (as well as how Tris has mistreated him in the past) and drives off, abandoning her. Nick again asks Norah about her being "friends with benefits" with Tal. He asks about those "benefits" (presumably meaning the non-committal sex), but she says she doesn't know what they are (presumably referring to the advantages of dating Tal). When a series of numbers are given out regarding the location of a band's guerilla performance, one of them is 68, but one of the gay band members recalls it as 69, prompting Thom to tell him to get his mind out of the gutter. Nick and Norah passionately kiss while standing, and then go down onto a sofa. As the camera slowly pans around the room, we hear the sounds of them kissing as well as whispering, including him asking why one of her buttons is so difficult and why she would buy those sorts of pants. We then hear her aroused and then orgasmic sounds (also seen on the audio meters in the recording studio) with the camera finally getting back around to them (a head and shoulder shot of him lying next to her, finding her gum in his mouth). When they get a call that makes them leave, they get up, still clothed, with her buttoning her pants (suggesting that he manually stimulated her rather than them having intercourse). When Tal won't leave Norah alone, Nick shoves him and Tal shoves him back. When Nick gives him an "or else" ultimatum, Tal sarcastically replies, "What, your merry band of men will blow me?" SMOKING We see a photo of Tris in a bikini top, holding what looks like a cigarette, all while wearing a bunny head. An actor dressed as Jesus smokes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Teen romance and dealing with breakups. Teenage drinking. Casual sex. The notion that the world is broken and that it's our job to put it back together. VIOLENCE Thom accidentally drives over Nick's garbage cans out on the curb. Lethario carries a very intoxicated Caroline over his shoulder and when he turns and she raises her head, the latter accidentally bangs into the van's door (played for comedy). While mad at each other, Norah hits Nick in the throat (played as comedy on the part of the film). Norah is thrown around the inside of the back of the band's van when various turns/swerves are made. While driving Nick's car, Norah accidentally drives over a fire hydrant (but no water comes out). When Tal won't leave Norah alone, Nick shoves him and Tal shoves him back. That then continues back and forth until Lethario steps forward and head-butts Tal, sending him to the floor, with Lethario then looking as if he's going to cry. Reviewed September 11, 2008 / Posted October 3, 2008

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