Superbad (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
2 high school BFFs (Best Friends Forever), Seth & Evan (Jonah Hill, Michael Cera), go on a mission to get alcohol for a graduation party with hopes of losing their virginity in 'Superbad', a comedy written by Seth Rogen (Knocked Up), Evan Goldberg, produced by Judd Apatow, & directed by Greg Mottola. Another friend of theirs, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), gets a fake ID, & agrees to help acquire liquor. As you can imagine, things go terribly wrong. And it is our benefit to witness just how bad things get. The beginning & end of the movie are both hysterical & even poignant. But the middle section is long-winded.
Evan is smart, Seth is dumb, so both will be going to different echelons of college after the summer concludes. So for one last time, they hope to go out with a bang (together) by trying to achieve one of their low-brow goals ... lose their virginity with the girls of their dreams. They're not looking for love, they're looking for College Prep (if you know what I mean). Little does Seth know that Fogell, their awkward pal, will also be rooming with Evan at college. A splintering of friendships could occur. But anyway, back to the insane plot. Fogell gets a decent looking fake ID, but only the 'McLovin' appears as the person's name.
Murphy's Law comes into play. Jules (Emma Stone), the girl throwing the big party, is anxious for the guys' (with the alcohol) arrival. But they are nowhere in sight. You see, 'McLovin' is attacked by a robber at the liquor store. The cops (Seth Rogen, Bill Hader) show up. And instead of arresting 'McLovin' for underage buying, they take him under their wing! From a far, Seth & Evan 'think' he's being arrested. And a series of crazy circumstances unfold for the rest of the plot. What are the cops’ plans? Will McLovin make it out alive? Will Seth & Evan ever make it to the party? Is their chance of getting laid shot to Hell?
There is a lot to like in 'Superbad'. The comedic timing of the actors is great. The screenplay is clever, profane, lewd, crude, & tolerable (for the most part). Seth is funny as the token fat dude. McLovin is hysterical as an obnoxious, twerpy kid. But Michael Cera's Evan is most impressive in the 'average guy' role. In all, the cast is highly likeable, and even relatable. This is a hallmark of most Judd Apatow films. He's able to make us care about them; especially Seth & Evan in a late scene. The prospect of their separation anxiety (once summer ends) is very, very palpable. And there's also a good lesson to be learned: in most cases, it's better to just confront the girl you're interested in rather than to try to impress her with alcohol, false charms, & lies. Don't be an ass & don't be a putz, be confident.
Again, my only complaint is the mid-section. The protagonists' misadventures become stupid. The film loses a bit of credibility when the cops enter the plot (I don't buy that cops would willingly get drunk or act crazy in front of a minor, or anyone else for that matter). These middle scenes have their moments, but go on for far too long (just like Apatow's 40 Yr. Old Virgin & Knocked Up). The fun never stops, it just gets bland now & then. Overall, this teen sex comedy is a mild winner. It's blend of slapstick & foul-mouthed dialogue is executed fluidly, and confidently; I'd expect nothing less from Judd Apatow.
Evan is smart, Seth is dumb, so both will be going to different echelons of college after the summer concludes. So for one last time, they hope to go out with a bang (together) by trying to achieve one of their low-brow goals ... lose their virginity with the girls of their dreams. They're not looking for love, they're looking for College Prep (if you know what I mean). Little does Seth know that Fogell, their awkward pal, will also be rooming with Evan at college. A splintering of friendships could occur. But anyway, back to the insane plot. Fogell gets a decent looking fake ID, but only the 'McLovin' appears as the person's name.
Murphy's Law comes into play. Jules (Emma Stone), the girl throwing the big party, is anxious for the guys' (with the alcohol) arrival. But they are nowhere in sight. You see, 'McLovin' is attacked by a robber at the liquor store. The cops (Seth Rogen, Bill Hader) show up. And instead of arresting 'McLovin' for underage buying, they take him under their wing! From a far, Seth & Evan 'think' he's being arrested. And a series of crazy circumstances unfold for the rest of the plot. What are the cops’ plans? Will McLovin make it out alive? Will Seth & Evan ever make it to the party? Is their chance of getting laid shot to Hell?
There is a lot to like in 'Superbad'. The comedic timing of the actors is great. The screenplay is clever, profane, lewd, crude, & tolerable (for the most part). Seth is funny as the token fat dude. McLovin is hysterical as an obnoxious, twerpy kid. But Michael Cera's Evan is most impressive in the 'average guy' role. In all, the cast is highly likeable, and even relatable. This is a hallmark of most Judd Apatow films. He's able to make us care about them; especially Seth & Evan in a late scene. The prospect of their separation anxiety (once summer ends) is very, very palpable. And there's also a good lesson to be learned: in most cases, it's better to just confront the girl you're interested in rather than to try to impress her with alcohol, false charms, & lies. Don't be an ass & don't be a putz, be confident.
Again, my only complaint is the mid-section. The protagonists' misadventures become stupid. The film loses a bit of credibility when the cops enter the plot (I don't buy that cops would willingly get drunk or act crazy in front of a minor, or anyone else for that matter). These middle scenes have their moments, but go on for far too long (just like Apatow's 40 Yr. Old Virgin & Knocked Up). The fun never stops, it just gets bland now & then. Overall, this teen sex comedy is a mild winner. It's blend of slapstick & foul-mouthed dialogue is executed fluidly, and confidently; I'd expect nothing less from Judd Apatow.