An endearing audiovisual trip.

Rating: 7/10 (7 February 2009)

Nick and Norah are obviously kindred spirits but as it goes in a movie universe, anyone could see that but themselves. We follow them on a past midnight adventure through the streets of the Big Apple as they try to find their favorite band's hidden concert venue. Along the way they both run into their ex's, Nick's uses him to boost her self esteem when she feels insecure, Norah's uses her to get his demo released by her big-shot daddy music producer. Playing full blown secondary characters: the backdrop of nightly New York skylines and her twinkly lights and a soft-indie soundtrack weaving the scenes together. The best scenes involve a sound mixing board lighting up from loudening moans, an empty (but cozy) recording studio and the tasteful absence of the camera eye.
There is one scene her which I felt detracted a little bit from the enchanting, charming experience that was watching NANIP, namely Caroline's regurgitation and subsequent digging for her gum in the toilet. I felt very strongly that should have been cut, as it is not funny nor of any interest to anyone. Luckily the rest of the film turned out to be tasteful.
Speaking of tasteful things, Kat Dennings's Norah really is one of the more complex and authentic characters you'll find in rom-coms. The talented young actress did very well in highlighting both Norah's insecurity as her headstrong and passionate side. Two characteristics most performers would make indistinguishable on the screen, while they are fundamentally different feelings though they are often similar in symptoms, if you will. That requires subtlety. Another subtly different performance is Michael Cera as Nick. He is second to none at playing the awkward, endearingly naive teenager. Still, Nick shows a more brooding, artistic, deep side. I really admire the restraint Cera brings to his roles, and in NANIP he surely brings more to rave about to the table than ever before.
In an era where most of the major movie critics disregard audiovisual qualities and favor reviewing almost solely based on scripts, NANIP comes in danger of being brushed under the mat as unambitious, trivial even. Yet what is so trivial about a slice of life musical experience? Isn't capturing the teenage condition what coming-of-age movies should really aim at? Now that the movie year has come to a close, NANIP sticks out as one of the most original romantic movies of 2008 and I hope to see more similar movies in the years to come.