Superbad
SUPERBAD: SUPER FUNNY
BY
STEPHANIE M. WILSON
With the comedy Superbad, it looks like Judd Apatow and gang have done it again. This movie is rude, crude, and just plain hilarious. One of its stars, Jonah Hill, has great comic timing. It is not surprising that he has shown up in a number of Apatow’s film. This is a coming of age story about two high school outcasts trying to score with their lady crushes.
Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) are best friends in high school. They are about to graduate. They aren’t a part of the cool crowd. Jules (Emma Stone), Seth’s crush, decides to have a party and invites him. He offers to buy the booze. Becca (Martha MacIsaac), Evan’s crush, is going to the party. Both boys make it their goal to get with the girls by the end of the night, intoxicated or not. They get help along the way from Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), aka “McLovin”. The night takes them on an adventure they will never forget with the endgame being the elusive party.
Seth Rogen of Knocked Up fame co wrote this film. He captures what is essential to that of a male high schooler. Character Seth doesn’t mince words. Not since American Pie have you heard such crudeness. But it is a sweet story disguised as a Porky’s like film. Jonah Hill steals every scene he is in. He first caught my eye in Grandma’s Boy and is a part of the Apatow gang. He can handle a one liner like Jesse James could shoot a gun. Michael Cera came to fame with cult favorite Arrested Development. He wants to please his best friend but also just wants to profess his love to Becca. He is very timid and soft-spoken to Seth’s aggressive and loud nature. The location is that of a typical high school background. There is the liquor store where everybody tries to buy alcohol with their fake id. The party everybody is going to. The unexpected stops along the way that our heroes encounter.
Every scene and every conversation had its place to make the film work. Taking out one would have interrupted the flow of an underachieving film that just wants to make its audience laugh.
Superbad takes its place up there with Fast Times at Ridgemont High and American Pie. It’s not going to win any awards come award season. But who cares? It makes us laugh. That is what will be remembered 20 years from now.
Report Card:
Story-B
Acting-A
Visuals-C
Originality/Innovation-B
Enjoyability Grade–B+
DVD Extras-C+
Overall Grade-B+
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