“Superbad” is another film which follows a group of high school friends searching for a potential suitor to take their virginity. It’s the sort of formula we’ve seen countless times over the decades (“Porky’s” and “American Pie” come to mind) and one we are sure to see more of in the future. But what makes this film so memorable is how genuinely funny and touching it actually is. Thanks to the screenplay co-written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the characters work off of each other and rarely get annoying or bratty, unlike every other film in this category.
Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are two kids in high school working their way towards getting laid. Each of them has a target set too. Evan has had a crush on Becca (Martha MacIsaac) for years, while Seth can only focus on Jules (Emma Stone). Since Seth and Evan aren’t all that hip and involved in the popular crowd, they weren’t really invited to the big party tonight, where both these girls are going to be (coincidentally I am sure).
Their luck changes however, when their buddy Fogell (newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse) shows up with a fake ID. Sure the kid looks like he’s twelve and his ID claims twenty-five but it’s the name that may be a giveaway – all it says is McLovin. Seth and Evan freak, as they are pretty positive a liquor store employee won’t approve this ID, but Fogell presses on.
After a mishap at the liquor store, McLovin finds himself in the right side of custody with two bumbling police officers (Seth Rogen and Bill Hader). This is probably the most unbelievable sequence in the entire film. Can you imagine getting in a squad car with two somewhat cool (albeit idiotic) cops, who buy you beers and allow you to shoot their guns? Regardless, once you look past the implausibility here (and maybe even jealousy), there are moments of sheer hilarity here.
While the film is as wonderfully vulgar as could be (along the same lines as “Knocked Up” or “40 Year Old Virgin”), it’s almost just as touching. Those films also touched on similar themes, most importantly, the bonds of friendship. Evan and Seth have known each other since grade school and now that their high school days are coming to an end, their separation is inevitable. And like those films, it never over does it on the sappiness factor.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have stated that they began writing this film when they were young teens as experiment, to see if they could actually write a movie. Sure, it’s gone through countless rewrites since then I am sure, but it’s still an inspirational feat and a goal they succeeded greatly at. Judd Apatow (director of “Knocked Up” and “40 Year Old…”) produces, which is surely another reason why “Superbad” is easily one of the funniest comedies of the year and one you wouldn’t mind seeing again and again.
