Michael Cera: An Almost Famous Almost Sex Symbol

A MICHAEL CERA joke is not a joke at all. Often the laugh comes at the end of the sentence, when Mr. Cera's words have slowed to a dribble, leaving an emptiness filled only by his blank Pez-dispenser face, which is the real punch line.

In Mr. Cera's roles as a devoted baby daddy in "Juno" and a thwarted party seeker in "Superbad," his muted comedy was his signature. But in real life the dialed-down persona is a little unnerving.

Jason Reitman, who directed him in "Juno," acknowledged that a chat with the laconic Mr. Cera could be a wee bit off-putting. "Good luck figuring him out," he said. "I met him when he was 16 and wondered, 'Is this some kind of bit?' But he's totally sincere, totally kind and inscrutable. He's the dark matter of the universe."

During the Toronto International Film Festival this month Mr. Cera, 20, showed up for an interview sporting a bright red backpack, his cords hiked high and belted on his hips like a drawstring bag. He came off much like the type of adorable kid eccentric he often plays, a role he will need to age out of if he wants to sustain his career, though maybe not quite yet.

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