Superbad
Monday, 17 Sep 2007 13:27
How bad do you want it? Superbad
Directed by Greg Mottola, out September 14th in cinemas, starring Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, running time 113 minutes.
In a nutshell…
Feel-good hit of the summer
What's it all about?
When awkward high school students Evan (Michael Cera), Seth (Jonah Hill) and Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) hatch a plan to buy booze for an end-of-year party, their bid for popularity and the long-awaited loss of their virginity goes painfully and hilariously awry.
Based on the adolescent experiences of Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (starring here as an unorthodox cop), this promises laughs, love and a fake ID adorned with the enigmatic moniker McLovin'.
Who's in it?
Fans of criminally-cancelled sitcom Arrested Development will relish in a leading role for the fantastically-awkward Michael Cera, while Knocked Up supporting player Jonah Hill displays some impressive star quality, despite his unconventional looks. Though the movie is dominated by the chemistry between Cera and Hill, Mintz-Plasse is a geeky delight as McLovin' and Seth Rogen and Bill Hader run riot as some corrupt cops.
As an example…
Evan: "You changed your name to McLovin'?"
Seth: "It doesn't even have a first name, it just says McLovin'!"
Evan: "The guy's either going think 'here's another guy with a fake ID', or here's McLovin', 25-year-old Hawaiian organ donor."
Fogell: "I am McLovin'."
Evan: "I heard she got breast reduction surgery."
Seth: "What? That's like slapping God across the face for giving you a beautiful gift."
Evan: "She had back-problems, man".
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars?
Slim to none - there's no way that a film with this high a proportion of d**k jokes could ever get any serious critical acclaim, but Cera and Hill are sure to grab any best double act awards. And in is his first movie role, Mintz-Plasse excels to such a level that he'll at least get some best newcomer nominations.
What the others say
"Equally hilarious and heartfelt, this is the best teen movie since American Pie and should make stars of the fantastic Cera and Hill" - Olly Richards, Empire
"It's not for the easily offended, but look past the fabulously crude dialogue, and Superbad is one of the most consistently funny and enjoyable teen comedies in years." - Saxon Bullock, Channel 4 Film
So is it any good?
Seemingly the busiest man in Hollywood - currently donning lycra to play the Green Hornet - Seth Rogen's teen memoir certainly plays like it was written by 14-year-old, its comedy derived exclusively from k**b gags and slapstick. Its ponderous pacing is an irritant at times - even though the action plays out over just a single night, and the middle eight, in which Evan and Seth inevitably fall out, is a necessary but annoying feature. And despite its superbly foul-mouthed script, it's your standard right-of-passage teen film, as faithful to genre conventions as American Pie, Porky's or The Breakfast Club.
But it remains a consistently laugh-out-loud comedy, not as accomplished but certainly funnier than its stable mate Knocked Up. From the clever opening credits - in which silhouettes of the two leads show off some serious grooves - through to Hill's superbly foul-mouthed rant at his home economics teacher and the hysterical adventures of McLovin' and the cops to a superbly juvenile closing credit montage - it's an accomplished, heart-warming movie. And for a piece so obsessed with X-rated gags, there's a sincerely sensitive heart to partner its riotously randy soul.
8/10
To hear the Superbad stars talk about the film click here
Lewis Bazley
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