'Nick and Norah's' stars just having a soup-er time

"The soup of the day is Tomato and Red Pepper with White Bean and Arugula," said Michael Cera, on the phone with Four Seasons room service.

Kat Dennings decided she wanted one, too.

Then a publicist grabbed the phone from Cera, a star still willing (and able) to order his own soup.

He and Dennings were hungry. After discussing their new teen-romance comedy-with-music, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," all morning, lunch had become a priority.

"That sounds like the best soup they could have had for the soup of the day," Cera said, with his earnest, glass-half-full disposition that audiences have come to love. "I was at the airport yesterday and there was a tomato and red pepper soup and I ate it and it was so good."

"We'd like to think that the soup at the Four Seasons is better than the soup at the airport," I interjected, even though no one had offered me soup.

"You'd be surprised," Dennings said.

But enough about lunch. Cera ("Juno," "Superbad," "Arrested Development") and Dennings ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "E.R.") were in town to promote "Nick and Norah," and the trip was a homecoming for Dennings, who was raised (and home-schooled) in Wynnewood.

Dennings, who's been on the verge of a lead role after a number of supporting parts, said that she came to her role as Norah the usual way, loving the script and the character and then auditioning.

"This time it all worked out," she said. "I got it, which is cool."

Cera, who oozes a zen-like empathy, said, "It's heartbreaking when you get so close and don't get it, especially if it's something you really want."

"It was really hard," Dennings added, "It was like a week-and-a-half before they said I got it, because there was some finagling . . ."

"But it always works out in the end," he said.

"It worked out but I was really a wreck that whole week. I bit all my nails off and my agents called to tell me I got it and one of them was like 'Unfortunately . . .' and I was like, 'WHAAAAAT?' And they were like, 'Just kidding.' "

"I imagine that's one of the highlights of being a manager," Cera said, "getting to give the good news. Think how good that must feel."

And those managers even get a commission. The agents, too.

"Everybody gets a piece," said Dennings. "Frankly they didn't get very much from me, but they love me so they're happy."

"It's a very personal job," Cera said.

"Yeah, I was crying in J. Crew" upon hearing the news, Dennings said, "trying not to cry."

And how did the experience turn out?

"I wish I could have the 'Nick and Norah' cast on every film," Dennings said.

"Yeah, this one I felt pretty sad when we finished because this group of people had spent every day together and we were all friends and then it's over and it's never going to happen again."

So, Kat, as a native, have you taken Michael to any of your favorite local spots?

"No. We've just been kind of busy the whole time. I wish I could bring you back here in winter time and take you to Suburban Square," Dennings said to her co-star. "They have real reindeer there. . . . Whether you love Santa - or Hanukkah - everybody loves reindeer."

"That's true," said Cera.

"And they have lights and when it snows, ohmiGod it's so pretty." *