Sweet Story in New York

Rating: 6/10 (27 July 2009)

Dumped and broken hearted, Nick (Michael Cera) still holds a torch for his ex, until one eventful evening he meets Norah (Kat Dennings) and thus ensues a sleepless night of finding friends, music and love changing their lives. Think 'American Graffiti' think 'High Fidelity' put these in a film with a MySpace generation dialogue then you get 'Nick and Norah'.
From the opening credits it will be relatively easy to see where this film is heading from the slow guitar music to Cera, painting his career in to a corner effortlessly playing the ever jittery, romantic man-child we've seen in 'Arrested Development' and 'Juno'. The film almost seems reliant on its soundtrack, which although sits well with the film, there is nothing quite as defining as 'High Fidelity' largely due to the drama unfolding in front of us not being able to lift it and a lack of the same sharp wit and dialogue.
The above is not to say the film is bad as Cera is charming and works on screen as Nick opposite the unconventionally beautiful Dennings in a nice dynamic chemistry. It is also one of the few rom-com's that gets it right, managing to tell a sweet, well paced story over one night against the backdrop of Manhattan.