I'm Assuming the 'Bad' means 'Good'

Rating: 8/10 (16 January 2011)

You know these kinds of movies. The ones that grow on you. You can watch the entire thing through and mildly like it, but for hours, if not days, following, you find yourself laughing and/or enjoying the product you experienced.
Superbad has now done that to me twice. Well, I've seen it now twice, and both times I kept finding it "just okay" or "barely funny" throughout, yet following and especially in discussion with a work buddy the next day, I found my laughing out loud at some of the lines and humorous (supposedly) irrelevant scenes.
I also thought of how innocently they re-created high school, much like the John Hughes comedies of decades past. Aside from the goofy, but hilarious cops, everything pretty much played out as if this was based on true events. (Was it, Seth?)
BFFs Seth (Hill) & Evan (Cera) venture through their last weeks of high school slacking, complaining and upset they can't continue their lifelong friendship into college as they're headed to different schools. While wooing their prospective mates, the inexperienced duos plan to hit up a party one night and they're set to purchase and bring the booze. Only they're underage.
In comes Fogell (Mintz-Plasse in his introduction role thatwillseriouslydefine him from here on out) who got a fake ID with the one name (Cher, anyone?) McLovin on it and that he's Hawaiian. I'm guessing this was California, but most license plates (and police uniforms) state "Clark County" – which, of course, could be just about anywhere.
At any rate, they go through hell & high water to get the tainted water and to the girls of their dreams while realizing they're losing more than they're gaining.
If these were adults, it would be hard not to relish the many events, close calls and fun times they actually had. Meaning, they act like this will happen every day of their life outside of high school. It could, but it's 99% doubtful. Perhaps if these characters were real, they could, in fact, look back and cherish the absolute fun they had, if not just on this night.
There's a ton of swearing and some sexuality towards the end – I did say this was realistic, so its crucial to the plot and actually separates this from those Hughes movies. It's also surprisenly touching, and I'm not referring to the bromantic "drunk/love" scene towards the closing. It's on the escalatorthe look Seth gives is so real and heartbreaking, it almost makes the whole movie, if you haven't already yet appreciated the humor – namely from (once again) the brilliant Michael Cera.
It's not overloaded like the other Johan Hill/Seth Rogan movies with cameos, though there are a few. I couldn't believe my eyes when Clark Duke is spotted in the party with barely a line to his character. And speaking of Rogan (as Officer Michaels,) as funny he was as the rookie cop along with Officer Slater (Hader) as the drunk veteran, I thought they actually brought the movie down a slight notch. Sure, they were both hilarious – namely with the liquor store clerk, but they are the absolute only unrealistic part of the movie.
That said, it's a real thinker. I've been told by more than one person – and as stated, this is my opinion as well, that this movie isn't great the first time. But it sure as heck grows on you the more you think about it. That's good writing.
Side Note: after recently watching Easy A, a movie I fell in love with Emma Stone, it was great to watch her here. I sincerely hope she goes far in her career.