Dir. Greg Mottola, US, 2007, 114 mins
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogan
Review by Matthew Rodgers
Producer Judd Apatow is becoming synonymous with quality comedy in a way that Scorsese is for gangster movies, Michael Bay is for brainless action flicks, and Lindsey Lohan is for puffy eyed LA cop shop photo fits. Superbad’s baffling title gives very little indication of how “Supergood” the latest entry from the “Nerd Herd” actually is, outstripping the recent Knocked Up in the crude and credulity department with countless belly laughs, moments of touching sentiment and with McLovin, discovered one of the greatest comedy creations since Stifler’s admittedly annoying appearance in the not even worthy of comparison American Pie franchise.
Directed by 'Freaks and Geeks' alumni Greg Mottola, Superbad is Dazed and Confused littered with d*cks. On the cusp of graduating, co-dependant friends Evan (Michael Cera – 'Arrested Development') and Seth (Jonah Hill – Knocked Up) decide that an impending house party is their last chance to have a sex-fuelled summer by plying the objects of their affections with illegally bought alcohol in an attempt to “not suck d*ck at f*cking p*ssy”! Along with the aforementioned geek Fogell aka McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and two of the most inept cops committed to film (one of whom is co-writer Seth Rogan – Knocked up) we see the single day and night of their hilarious, morally corrupt quest.
Rogan and Seth Goldberg have admitted that the original concept was created when they were 14-year-olds living exactly the sort of life that our foul mouthed duo inhabit and then upon revisiting the story have injected it with a warmth and realism that only age and nostalgia for times gone by can bring. Successfully balancing the two is a trick that these particular filmmakers have nailed, its why Knocked Up had the broad appeal it did, and its why Superbad is as life affirming as say, Stand By Me; a different generation with the same message of the unbreakable bond of friendship.
The affection for the trio of friends would not be as strong without some fantastic lead performances. Jonah Hill is so foul mouthed you might consider a doctors visit for a tourettes diagnosis but his tirades are so frantically funny that the profanities become something of a juvenile art form; Mintz-Plasse sidesteps the usual nerdy third wheel role by being a completely loveable geek with a modicum of sense who gets to have the wild night he, and every McLovin in the world deserves. Highest marks in the class go to Michael Cera, an undiscovered talent previously seen on Fox’s criminally cancelled 'Arrested Development' he is a master of the awkward pause and comical naivety, giving Superbad, and Hill enough jokes to bounce of his relatively straight man shtick.
Destined for classic status for scenes such as Seth’s uncomfortable party dance, Mclovin’s complete character arc, and the most moving display of male bonding since Sam and Frodo, Superbad is the undisputed comedy of the year.
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