Say It Ain't So: Broderick Approves "Bueller" Remake

Matthew Broderick has given approval for a Ferris Bueller remake. Really? Has Hollywood really run out of fresh ideas? I'm up for a good remake every once in awhile - as long as the movie warrants a remake. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is not one of those movies. I could see a studio making a Ferris sequel - possibly where Ferris continues his rebellious antics at the college level or 40-year-old Ferris attempts to collect a paycheck without ever going to work - but to remake this classic just seems unnecessary. Fortunately, while Broderick has given the green light on the project, he won't be involved. Broderick told Cinematical, "[A remake] would be fine. I would be perfectly happy for somebody to do that. I probably wouldn't enjoy [having a role in the film]. I would rather leave what we did as our thing." Let's hope the rest of the 1986 original cast take the day off as well.

Reviewed: Youth in Revolt

Youth in Revolt (Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday; directed by Miguel Arteta)
Quick Synopsis: Teenager develops alternate ego in order to get his dream girl
Ballas' Bottomline: Good, funny story; don't expect Superbad 2
Ballasometer: 7.0

Youth in Revolt tells the story of Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), who falls instantly in love with Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday) while on vacation with his mother (Jean Smart) and her current loser boyfriend (Zach Galifianakis). When geography and family matters keep Nick and Sheeni apart, he decides to abandon his boring personality and develops a rebellious, mustached, cigarette-smoking, "supplementary persona" named Francois Dillinger. Nick's bad-bay alter ego leads him down a disruptive path in an attempt to be reunited with his dream girl.

"In movies it's usually the good guy who gets the girl. In real life, it's usually the prick." - Michael Cera as Nick Twisp

It was interesting to see Cera portray Francois. The character was enjoyably different than the awkward teenager he has been virtually typecast to play. However, those expecting to see Cera play the dorky teen he has made a career playing won't be disappointed. The film follows Nick/Francois as he puts himself in all kinds of awkward situations. Everything that appears to go right at first, usually ends up going humorously wrong. While some of Nick's antics were a little far-fetched, none can be completely disregarded as something a teenager would do with the right amount of motivation to lose his virginity.

If there's one major thing wrong with the screenplay (penned by Charlie Barlett's Gustin Nash), it is the introduction of the supporting cast. Miss Twisp's newest boyfriend and police officer, Lance Wescott (Ray Liotta), and Sheeni's older brother, Paul (Justin Long), seemed to be borderline unnecessary except to make certain plot points possible. Nick's father, George Twisp (Steve Buscemi), also could have been developed further.

One thing moviegoers might enjoy about this film is its use of animation (created by Peter Sluszka). Nick, his mother, and her boyfriend were recreated in clay for a stop-motion opening title sequence. Sluszka also directed Michael Cera in a pixelation sequence for a road trip scene, and his hand-drawn images where used in another in which Nick hallucinates. The animation was used well to transition scenes and added a little something extra to the feel of the movie - similar to the opening and chapter titles in Juno.

A critique of this movie in general was the way it was marketed. The previews suggest Youth is a pure comedy, which may lead viewers to expect to see Superbad 2. While the film had its share of laughs, it could be more accurately categorized as a teenage RomDramedy. Cera's character is more comparable to those he played in Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and Juno than in Superbad. While viewers probably won't mind watching Cera strive for his dream girl, it's likely not quite the movie they thought they were going to see. If nothing else, Youth in Revolt provides some solid laughs and reminds us how far we are willing to go for love.