May 26, 2012

In Theaters Now: Daybreakers, Youth in Revolt & Leap Year

by Kyle Rupprecht | Published January 8, 2010

Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe in Daybreakers. Photo credit: Ben Rothstein

Daybreakers
directed by Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig

The ubiquitous vampire trend (won’t these suckers ever die?) continues with Daybreakers, in which a deadly plague transforms nearly everyone on Earth into a ravenous bloodsucker. It falls upon the shoulders of one of the few survivors, a researcher (Ethan Hawke), to find a way to save mankind. The Spierig brothers helmed the cult horror film Undead several years ago, and here, armed with an intriguing premise and impressive cast (which also includes Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill), viewers can probably expect a more thought-provoking, adult take on the vampire mythos than The Twilight Saga has to offer.

Youth in Revolt
directed by Miguel Arteta

Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno, “Arrested Development") has carved out a niche for himself by playing neurotic, socially awkward young men. But let’s face it: He plays it really well. Cera’s latest role isn’t much of a stretch—he plays Nick Twisp, a nerdy high schooler obsessed with Sheeni (Portia Doubleday), his dream girl, whom he hopes will deflower him. Based on C.D. Payne’s popular book series, Youth in Revolt probably won’t offer anything revelatory in the teen angst sub-genre, but it is helmed by the director of impressive indies Chuck & Buck and The Good Girl—and features a sure-fire comedic cast, including Zach Galifianakis, Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard and Ray Liotta)—so it should be pretty painless whatever the outcome.

Leap Year
directed by Anand Tucker

In this formulaic-sounding romantic comedy, Amy Adams stars as a neurotic woman who plans to propose to her long-time boyfriend, played by Adam Scott ("Party Down"), on Leap Day, heeding an Irish tradition that encourages women to propose on February 29. While on her way to Dublin to pop the big question, the plane gets re-routed and she finds herself at the door of a surly Welsh innkeeper (Matthew Goode, A Single Man), who may throw a monkey-wrench into her plans. Adams had a rom-com hit this past summer with Julie & Julia, but her latest venture in the genre looks like a pretty ho-hum affair. On the positive side: The Irish countryside will sure look nice.