Paper Heart

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 7, 2009

DVD Release Date: December 1, 2009

Plot 411: A girl goes on the road with a team of documentary filmmakers to find out the meaning of love and finds love along the way.

Review: Charlyne Yi plays a character of herself in this faux documentary about love. She and her director Nick (Jake Johnson) travel across America and interview people to get to the truth of love. Charlyne the character isn't one who believes in love and doesn't know if she's capable of it herself. During their travels, they meet Michael Cera at a party. Charlyne and Michael hit it off and their blossoming relationship is incorporated into the documentary. Cameras follow them around and film their every move as Charlyne continues on her quest to find love. This was an interesting piece of work that blurred the lines between reality and fiction. While Yi and Cera are real people, they're also actors playing themselves. The concept is intriguing and reflects the current culture's obsession with reality TV. There are also some great scenes depicted with the use puppet-like figures. Totally cool.

Watch It: You're looking for a quirky rom com for the hipster generation.

Skip It: If all of these hipster flicks are getting on your last nerve.

Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 3, 2008

DVD Release Date: February 3, 2009

Plot 411: Heartbroken teens hit the big city to rock out, search for a missing friend and figure out Where's Fluffy.

Review: This is like the bible for indie rock geeks. Michael Cera (of Superbad and Juno fame) is genius as Nick. Once again he's captured that awkward geeky guy who somehow manages to pull off being cool. He's so lovable and sweet and nerdy hot. He's undeniable. Kat Denning (of The House Bunny) is perfect as Norah. She's got that emo-chick thing going on just naturally. What's completely cool about this movie is that the characters are so realistic that you feel like you know them. The best part is that this entire adventure happens in one night, and then it's back to school again. When you're young, your world could come to an end and crash all around you, but there's always tomorrow. This movie really shows us that anything's possible. I enjoyed the conversation between characters as well because it was so real. It doesn't sound scripted or forced. The babbling in some scenes actually happen in real life. It's rare that films are true to life these days. I also liked that Nick's bandmates and friends are gay. Another rarity in Hollywood is the portrayal of young, gay men. It's poignant that this film portrays an alternative lifestyle in a positive manner, one in which the characters don't think it's a big deal. Today, it isn't a big deal and the fact that this is reflected in the cinema is a sign of the times. Progress has been made. There are so many funny scenes, especially those that involve gum, barf and drunken behavior, yet there are others that are idyllically romantic but not overly cheesy. This film has just the right balance of romantic comedy and realism, and this really makes it work.

Watch It: For an accurate snapshot of a night in the life of a teenager.

Skip It: If reliving you teen years is too uncomfortable because this movie doesn't pull any punches.

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