Michael Cera plays two characters in Miguel Arteta's new film "Youth in Revolt." He is simultaneously sensitive sixteen-year-old Nick Twisp, who is just trying to lose his virginity, and Twisp's alter-ego Francois, a cigarette-smoking mod renegade in the vein of the French New Wave. While the only physical differences between the two are slightly better dress and significantly more facial hair on Francois's part, Cera brandishes his versatility as an actor like never before.

In "Youth in Revolt," Francois antagonizes Nick and wills him to do destructive acts in order to woo the sublime, unattainable Sheeni. It's a battle of two conflicting personalities, and a battle between the mustache and the peach fuzz.

Cera describes his character as a young man "so out of his time." And that could apply to either Nick or the much more suave-and much more hairy-Francois. To play Francois, Cera dons a fake mustache and ultra-cool demeanor that mark maturity in his abilities as an actor.

When asked what he would do for a girl, Cera says, "Um…I don't know. I'd do murder." Though Nick Twisp and Francois never go to such extremes, they do manage to set Berkeley ablaze, vandalize a trailer, and slip sleeping pills to an unassuming victim.

In one of the film's most hilarious moments, Cera masquerades in a dress to sneak by Sheeni's strict, religiously overzealous parents. Cera unabashedly recants one of the most memorable moments of the shoot, when, on set in Frankfort, Michigan, "a bunch of people saw me in drag in the street."

Working alongside such esteemed actors as Jean Smart, Fred Willard, and Steve Buscemi, Cera says it was "unique to have a face off with them." In one scene of utmost hilarity, Nick gets into a scuttle with Ray Liotta. "It was a lot of fun to yell at Ray Liotta. I think he really wanted to scare me."

Cera mentions Malcolm McDowell in the 1973 movie musical "O Lucky Man!" as an inspiration. Like McDowell's, Cera's performance is scene-stealing and utterly charming. In regards to the kind of roles he's considering for the future, he remarks, "It depends on what comes my way. I'd have to feel good about the movie." He also muses on possible collaborations. "I'd love to work with P.T. Anderson, Andrea Arnold, or Spike Jonze."

The elusive young siren of "Youth In Revolt" is played by Portia Doubleday, a newcomer to the world of starring roles in feature films. When asked about the surprise of garnering such a major role, Doubleday says, "I auditioned a few times over a week, and those two weeks were really a trip. Shock mode took over."

In regards to having a lifelong dream of acting fulfilled, Doubleday humbly states, "It's like something you've dreamed about your whole life…and having it smack you in the face." She plays Sheeni, an ostentatiously clever, precocious girl who almost instantly smacks Nick Twisp with the love stick.

When asked if she'd prefer the Nick or Francois persona, Doubleday jokes, "Every girl wants a mixture of both. We don't want to date an asshole but too nice can be a little boring."

Being the Generation Y-ers they are, Cera and Doubleday still have to balance the experience of being young and going to school with their acting careers. A student of psychology in Los Angeles (though she says, "I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it"), Doubleday admits that she even received a D in one class because she was constantly out of school during the film's production. Originally from Toronto, Cera says, "I haven't gone to college." It seems his busy work schedule has taken precedence. But for now, we are all okay with that.

The script was sent to Cera when he was sixteen, and as of 2009 he is 21-years-old. According to Cera, the intention of "Youth in Revolt" "was to stay in the spirit of the book." It was originally a highly popular fiction series written by C.D. Payne, and before director Miguel Arteta's version, "Youth" was a TV pilot and then a stage show.

This film exemplifies the kind of movies Cera will hopefully continue to do. It's similar to "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" or "Juno" in that the writing is tremendously witty and the dialogue is quirky and often shocking, yet "Youth in Revolt" seems to have more crossover appeal. "Older people would like it, older than college age people," comments Cera. "I think it's got a lot to offer for people who are older."

When asked about his future projects, Cera says he's not working on anything at the moment. In response to the inevitable question on everyone's minds about the "Arrested Development" movie, Cera succinctly states, "They're working on it." It's probably keeping in good spirit, just as it suspends us in unnerving anticipation, to veil this project in mystery.

Just like that mustache on Francois's face, Michael Cera will surely keep growing in every performance. From the pubescent awkwardness of "Arrested" to the go-for-broke daring of "Youth in Revolt," we've been given the chance to witness a budding young actor's transformation from teendom to stardom.

Tags: MICHAEL CERA, YOUTH IN REVOLT