Michael Cera made a name for himself in the aughts as a comedic actor who perfectly embodied the dweebish teen characters he was born to play. With an eternally youthful face and voice, Cera continued to play younger characters well into his second decade of performing.
Whether in award-winning indie films such as Rotten Tomatoes all have outstanding Tomatometer scores.
Sausage Party (2016) - 82%
Despite its absurd premise and crude humor, Sausage Party proved a lot of doubters wrong when it was finally released. The animated romp tells the story of a curious sausage who ventures from his comfortable world in the fridge to ascertain exactly what his purpose is in life.
Michael Cera's role as Barry was clearly written for the actor and the small sausage's diminutive stature is met by Cera's soft-spoken style of acting. Stuffed with a fair amount of food-based sex jokes, Sausage Party lived up to the crude reputation it had garnered before its release. Shockingly though, the silly filmed turned out to be one of the best films from Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg.
Molly's Game (2017) - 82%
Drawing inspiration from real life, director Molly's Game is the story of an Olympic skier who leaves her sporting life behind in order to host an extremely high stakes poker game that attracts rich and famous clientele. Slowly, her success begins to draw the attention of the FBI.
Never revealing any actual names, Michael Cera plays an approximation of a real celebrity who is only referred to as player X. Stepping out of his comfort zone, Cera shines as the pushy and rude poker player who is nothing like his usual ineffectual characters. Though most of Aaron Sorkin's best works feature an element of humor, Molly's Game is one of the most dramatic projects in Cera's filmography.
Entertainment (2015) - 82%
Though the film centers on a gaggle of stand-up comedians, Entertainment doesn't rely very heavily on humor. On the way to reconnect with his estranged daughter, a failing comedian attempts to revive his career by playing a series of stand-up shows in the Mojave dessert.
The dark character study features a wealth of strong ing characters and Michael Cera is practically unrecognizable as Tommy. The strength of the film is that it shows the real side of stand-up comedy and lets the audience see what goes on behind the curtain. The bitterness of the profession is on full display as several comedians jockey for position in a cut-throat world.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) - 82%
Shot through with kicking tunes and over-the-top visuals, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World delivers its own version of comic book action. Scott Pilgrim is a Toronto area rock musician who falls for a woman named Ramona Flowers. To win her heart, Scott has to defeat Ramona's "seven evil exes."
Generally considered one of the best non-superhero comic book movies, Scott Pilgrim is a hilarious, and action filled romp. As Scott Pilgrim, Cera is able to play the role as both a sensitive musician, and a romantic lead with similar gusto. Acting essentially as the straight man to the melodramatic ing characters, Scott is the audience's guide to the strange world of the film.
Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus (2013) - 83%
Films are often about a character's journey, but Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus presented one of cinema's strangest adventures. Jaime is a rude American traveling in Chile who, on a whim, invites a free-spirited woman along with his group in search of a hallucinogenic native cactus. Jaime and his new companion are at odds until they finally imbibe in the strange plant.
Essentially a film in two parts, Crystal Fairy is a hilarious lampooning of classic film formulas. Cera flashes his acting chops by playing a subtly unlikable character who always makes trouble no matter where he goes. Along the way, the film has a lot to say about world travel, and the way Americans treat the world around them.
This Is The End (2013) - 83%
Taking the premise of play exaggerated versions of themselves. A group of celebrities find themselves trapped at James Franco's house when an apocalyptic event destroys Los Angeles.
What makes the film so hilarious is that it simultaneously makes fun of celebrity culture while also celebrating some of the screen's biggest comic stars. Michael Cera plays himself in a relatively small role with a hilarious pay-off, and he is just one of many pieces of the film's ensemble cast. Though the film is well crafted, the most entertaining part of the viewing experience is that the cast is clearly having a great time working together and making something silly.
Superbad (2007) - 87%
Reviving the classic teen sex comedies of the 1980s, Superbad adds something new to the tired sub-genre. Two overly dependent high school friends find their relationship tested over the course of a night as they race from party to party in a desperate attempt to hold onto their fleeting youth.
Though Superbad is extremely hilarious, it is also a touching tale of friendship and how people can drift apart as their lives move in different directions. Written with the benefit of hindsight, the film captures the high school experience with a clever mix of truth and fiction. Cera plays Evan, the more levelheaded of the two leads, and he shows that he is the quintessential straight man for the modern age of comedy.
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) - 90%
The LEGO Batman Movie was one of the most unique takes on the Dark Knight. The cocky and confident Batman must simultaneously deal with his usual stable of villains, as well taking care of the teenage boy that he adopted, who insists on being his partner in crime fighting.
Cera plays Robin and his vocal talents are on full display next to his co-star Will Arnett. As a duo, the combo of Arnett's Batman and Cera's Robin is one of the best interpretations of the characters and is a refreshingly funny take. Despite being based on toys, the LEGO films went above and beyond viewers' expectations and were perfect films for kids and adults alike.
Gloria Bell (2018) - 91%
Letting loose is the theme of the film Gloria Bell, and its ensemble cast gets a chance to shine throughout. Gloria is a free-spirited divorcee who goes to Los Angeles nightclubs in order to unwind at night. When she begins a relationship with another divorced person, Gloria starts to analyze all of the lives that orbit hers.
Though the film is focused on Gloria as its main character, all of the ing characters get their own strong moments. Cera plays Peter, Gloria's adult son who is the primary caregiver for his infant, and he plays the part with a rich texture of humanity. Compared to Gloria's desire to break away, many of the people in her life are shackled by responsibilities that she no longer has.
Juno (2007) - 94%
Perfectly embodying the indie comedy spirt, Juno set the pace for what was possible in the niche genre that it lived in. Juno is a precocious teenager who finds herself pregnant by her dweebish high school boyfriend. Weighing all of her options carefully, Juno eventually decides to adopt her child to a loving couple who can't conceive.
Elliot Page's performance is what carries the film, but Michael Cera's turn as Paulie is right in his wheelhouse as an actor. Though he doesn't get a lot to do in the film, Cera uses his screen time to play Paulie as a sensitive and realistic version of a high school student who is in way over is head. Perfectly balancing its humor and dramatic tone, Juno earns both parts of its dremedy label.
