Youth in Revolt(2010)- User Reviews

All right, out of great respect for the novel 'Youth in Revolt', by C. D. Payne, and my genuine fondness of Sheeni, one my favorite literature characters, I shall try to be gentle. My summary: the movie does not measure up to the book.

Portia Doubleday is, plainly put, unconvincing. She can play Aunt Polly from Tom Sawyer just fine, when she gets a bit older, but a refined intellectual, a straight A student worthy of an upscale private school – as Stanislavsky once put it, “I do not believe it.” She just lacked the sting.

It might not be her fault. It could be the makeup artist and the director, but judging by what I have seen, Kate Hudson would have been much more appropriate for the role.

The pricklier jokes from the book have also been edited out, such as the episode about the pedophilic priest. Well, that one is understandable: we cannot tolerate perverted clergy on an American screen, not unless it's CNN.

I, therefore, recommend: read the novel first, then see the movie. It is a decent comedy in its own right, but do not let the inferior acting spoil the first impression for you.