Anthony's Film Review - Superbad (2007)

Superbad proves that good comedy can exist no matter how tasteless it is...

I always thought that movies with gross-out humor are not worth watching, as if intelligent comedy and juvenile comedy are mutually exclusive. Over the years, however, I've become less judgmental about such films. That's not to say my taste in movies have changed entirely, but I will say that I'm more open-minded to low-brow humor. One major reason for this is how some comedies have come along that show the two types of humor can coexist, like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Borat. Superbad, written by Seth Rogen, is next in this line of movies. It does involve some of the same people behind The 40-Year-Old Virgin, so that's sort of a good sign.

But first, a word of caution. In order to not be offended by the first several minutes of the film, you have to be very acquainted with pornography and the associated explicit terms, whether or not you regularly view such material. You must also have no problems with seeing an assortment of doodles depicting the phallus in creative ways. And in this film, like most films targeted for the young adults, there's a lot of alcohol. So don't say I didn't warn you.

The main characters are two high school buddies, Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera). Both guys seek thrills with alcohol and girls, but between the two, Seth is the one who truly has a foul mouth and an obsession for getting laid. In fact, he is the one who, as a child, has drawn the penis doodles I just mentioned. The two guys are almost done with high school and will not be going to the same college. One day, there's an opportunity to join a party where a hot girl Seth meets will be at. They can go if they can succeed in getting alcohol. That means with deception as underage drinkers.

Yes, the film is quite vulgar, but how is it possible that I still liked the film? Because you have to look underneath the surface. Imagine stripping this movie of all the profanity and crude humor. What's left is a basic framework for a comedy. The situations that ensue involve things going wrong, unexpected surprises, and characters dealing with situations hectically. It's no different from any kind of smart comedy. It just happens to be coated with a lot of filth.

The two actors playing Seth and Evan, Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, respectively, do a great job in their parts. There is another character worth mentioning. The high school kid Fogell, played by newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse, is so funny because he's even dorkier than Seth and Evan. I still remember the scene where Fogell shows Seth and Evan his fake ID because it is the goofiest fake ID I've ever seen, with the false name McLovin. This is Christopher's first movie, and he was also an actual high school student at the time. I am sure he will be a star in the years to come.

So with Superbad, I either laughed or nodded with approval, but it all adds up to a positive rating. The ending is also sweet and doesn't simply reinforce what preceded it. I also like the performances by the main cast, because they are goofy characters but stay in character quite well. The only thing left is the title. I do not recall any reference to the title within the film. As far as I know, it's a brief description of the kind of content you can expect in this movie. It's not just bad. It's Superbad. But if you look beyond the surface, you may actually find it to be Supergood.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Superbad, visit the Internet Movie Database.