One of these is from Alexis Dziena, who plays Nick’s very recent ex-girlfriend: She toyed with him and never appreciated the music mixes he made for her (spoiler: Norah loves them). It’s a good-time flick, with cheerful performances and the kind of supporting cast that make 90 minutes seem like a brisk 30. Norah’s lack of fulfillment isn’t what moves the action here instead, we’re on a search for her best friend and an oh-so-cool band’s secret show, with Nick’s (Michael Cera) hapless band, in his hapless car (a Yugo), through downtown New York City’s music scene. It may sound tawdry, yet this plot point harkens back to a sweeter, John Hughes–era teen comedy (with a few switches flipped) wherein the search for a simple sex act was enough motivation for a number of scenes, if not an entire film.
The high schooler, played by Kat Dennings, is demeaned by her fellow classmates for having yet to experience the big O. There’s something almost quaint about Norah’s search for her orgasm.
