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Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Screen Gems (Sony)

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist reviews


5.7

based on 32 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 72 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for mature thematic material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior

Starring Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor, Jay Baruchel, Rafi Gavron, and Aaron Yoo

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and live, loud music. Nick frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band's secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives. (Sony Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Comedy \| Drama \| Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Lorene Scafaria
DIRECTED BY:	Peter Sollett
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: February 3, 2009 Theatrical: October 3, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	90 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

So much goes down on Nick and Norah's one enchanted evening that the best advice is to enjoy the ride -- the actual ride -- around this vibrant new New York.

USA Today Claudia Puig

Though the movie rambles in the middle, it gets back on track when Nick and Norah have a sweet encounter in an unexpected place. The soundtrack is an excellent counterpoint to the film's quirky scenarios.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

The movie is filled with wonderful music, memorable characters and rich, quotable dialogue. But what makes the picture really soar is the way it reminds you what it feels like to fall in love -- and the endless, countless possibilities a new romance brings.

NPR Bob Mondello

Though these two really grow on you, what's almost more remarkable than Nick, Norah or their playlist (which may not be infinite, but really does include some great music) is the quirky, melting-pot world director Peter Sollett creates around them.

Newsweek David Ansen

If we must have teen movies, let them all be as sweet and seductive as Sollett's smartly observed romance.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

A bright little screwball comedy that speaks for the vitality of new movies.

Los Angeles Times Michael Ordona

It is a teen romantic comedy that largely fits the familiar template but is also fleshed out with atmosphere, a nice blend of broad goofiness and sophistication, and two appealing leads who bring it to life.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Travis Nichols

Let's call this "High Fidelity Nano." It's a little bit less in every way, lighter and cuter than its archetypal elder, but it might just fit your present lifestyle all the better. Who needs to go back to the polysyllabic spree of John Cusack channeling Nick Hornby when you have Michael Cera making awkward emo look so lovable?

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Some movies skate by fast on slick action. Others snap with crisp dialogue. Nick and Norah springs high on the bounce of its hugely likable leads, Michael Cera and Kat Dennings.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Geared more toward teens, although that won't prevent older viewers with an affinity for romance from appreciating the vibes it gives off.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

Sollett works easily and well with Cera and Dennings, and lends a touch of awkward realism to what, from a screenwriting perspective, is pure formula.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Sollett's working with stale material, clearly. He genuinely likes people, though, and his fondness revives "Nick and Norah" and sets it spinning with camaraderie and hope.

Premiere Jenni Miller

It's a fantasy of one night in New York City and all its insanity, grossness, romance, and glamour.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

The movie's title proves to be not entirely a case of bait-and-switch. The film really is a homage to vintage Hollywood comedy.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Director Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas) and cinematographer Tom Richmond transform nocturnal New York into a soft-focus wonderland for their sweet but screwball courtship.

Time Richard Corliss

Though this Nick and Norah have a lot more angst, they're just as worth watching, admiring and cuddling up to.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Like the mix tapes that obsess its main characters, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist builds into something of infectious joy.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Regards its characters with affectionate detachment, and assures its audience that no great calamities or revelations are in store. Instead, there are a series of small crises and tiny epiphanies, all adding up to a story that courts triviality in its pursuit of charm.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

It's the journey that matters, however, and sometimes the film doesn't seem to know where it's going.

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

The conceit here is that if a boy and a girl love the same music, that means they're in love. Who am I to argue with such poetic whimsy?

New York Post Kyle Smith

It has a dogged all-night charm and a sense of who its audience is.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Has been designed to make gentle hearts soar beneath neo-grunge exteriors. It's a mixture of high-SAT humor and high-jinks so crude they're really low-jinks.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Every generation deserves its ultimate high school romance, and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist clearly aims to take the slot currently open. Despite a valiant attempt, though, it doesn't quite make the grade.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

The movie itself seems to be locked in a kind of adolescence; it never quite blossoms into maturity, into a fully rounded whole.

Slate Dana Stevens

So slight it's almost diaphanous--an hour after seeing it, what the movie leaves behind is not so much a memory as a mood. Still, it's a fine mood.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Sollett, hoping for a "Before Sunrise/Before Sunset" vibe, sadly settles for a soggy aftertaste.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Within the realm of a mildly good time.

Variety John Anderson

This is the kind of sparsely plotted comedy that depends on compelling characters, but it stars two young actors defined by ironic detachment.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Lacks some of the idiocy of your average teenage rom-com. But it doesn't bring much to the party. It sort of ambles along, with two nice people at the center of a human scavenger hunt. It's not much of a film, but it sort gets you halfway there, like a Yugo.

Portland Oregonian Stan Hall

Lest anyone think this soils Cera's record, the movie actually highlights his unique gifts; his easygoing chemistry with co-star Kat Dennings is practically the only thing about this picture that isn't pathetically contrived.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

All I can seem to muster, post-screening, is a modicum of fondness and a probably impermanent relief that the film isn't anywhere near as awful as it might have been in less capable hands.

Village Voice Robert Wilonsky

Plays like something crafted in a lab by 54-year-old hucksters trying to sell shit to the kids under the cheerless guise of "alternative." The only thing it's an alternative to? Good.

The average user rating for this movie is 5.7 (out of 10) based on 72 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jenn S gave it a3:
An annoying film with annoying characters who shared zero chemistry.

Dave W. gave it a4:
This movie was somewhat entertaining to watch, but don't expect to get much out of it. From the title, I assumed Nick and Nora were together, which they weren't. The majority of the movie is spent looking for a concert from a band that does poor advertising, and judging by the size of the concert, should probably advertise their venues, rather than not telling anyone. The only thing that was really accomplished in the movie, was Nick and Nora getting together, which I assumed we would have started with, given the title.

Aaron M. gave it a3:
Poorly acted, poorly written. I didn't care about any of the characters, and music did not play as big a role as we were led to believe it would. I wanted my 90 minutes back.

Ryan M. gave it a3:
Slowly paced, rather boring. Promising young actors though, just poorly utilized. Weak script, not many laughs. More of a teenage romantic comedy.

Omar G. gave it a9:
It's a great movie, from beginning to end. Idiots will demur.

Kadee C. gave it a6:
this movie would get more if it wasn't made after a book that I loved so much.and totally not even close to the book The movie wasn't that great. But I wont say I didn't like it.

Eric M. gave it a10:
I never written a review for a movie but I had to due to the harsh treatment this one was receiving. I felt something for the characters and that says a lot. IIt was a little cheesy at times, but thats fine, with these types of movies you have to lose yourself, it's fiction after all.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Screen Gems (Sony)

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Screen Gems (Sony)