It would seem that what amuses most, disgusts me.

Rating: 4/10 (30 April 2009)

I suppose it's not surprising Superbad has hit the nail on the head in certain circles and become so popular. Here is a film that takes the fears of a specific age-group and spins them around onto their heads by turning it all into comedy of the farcical nature. Young adults old enough to see it in Britain with its '15' certificate and 'R' certificate in The States are able to witness the things they're truly afraid of get moulded into acts of would-be pure hilarity for their own amusement as three hapless male individuals of varying size, stature and type are lumbered with the 'fall guy' tags.
But for everyone else, Superbad is exactly its title and anyone who thinks otherwise is either lying or trying to come across as one of those people who understands what the youth of today demand – that or, they've realised this is generic film-making and have smirked a few times; thus allowing a recommendation. In short, Superbad is complete garbage. Its passive approach and disgusting humour shouldn't really appeal to anyone older than 18; I mean, what goes through someone's mind when they're being treated to a montage of pencil drawn phallus' and thus, probably laughing their heads off? Incidentally, what goes through a screenwriter's mind when they presume everyone will find it funny in the first place? I'm not sure if it was the drawing of the phallus'; or the stained menstrual blood on the trouser leg; or the repetitive spitting onto people; or the alcohol-driven vomiting (which happens many times); or the visual re-enacting of sex acts behind a girl's back that disgusted me the most. Others will come away asking themselves which of the above they found funniest, and that is a frightening, frightening testament as to how low we may have sunk.
Superbad is the sort of picture that forces you to lower your self down a few notches as you try to comprehend these characters, their actions and their beliefs. If you're not down with the idea that 'girls exist purely to be slept with and ogled at' and that 'parties are the be all and end all of good recreational time spent' and that 'alcohol exists to be over-consumed', then you're simply not going to 'get' it. The film announces both its intentions and overall tone in a convenience store very early on. Two of the three leads in Seth (Hill) and Evan (Cera) mosey around, talking the usual trash talk to do with attempts at getting girls to sleep with them before the film pretty much lost me after five or so minutes. I am additionally surprised these people have even heard of people like Orson Welles and The Beatles.
The film's primary study is about trying to tap into fears and insecurities the sorts of people on display in the film might have. But do I think someone trying to buy alcohol whilst under-age is funny? No. Do I think gags about possessing condoms and lube is particularly worthy of a laugh? Not at all. Do I think the manner in which one character describes how he positions certain parts of his body within certain pieces of clothing at all humorous? No, no and no. Will the people that laugh now and give the people that write this junk their fame think it all that funny in years to come? Of course they won't.
So along with Even and Seth, the latter of whom spends the whole film shouting at everyone, you've got a guy called Fogell (Mintz-Plasse), whose alias 'McLovin' provides some of the film's more would-be non-sex or bodily function related gags, too bad none of the McLovin jokes are funny either. These three undergo a hapless night out which kicks off after the liqueur store Fogell is in trying to get drinks from is robbed and two of the most inept police officers you'll ever see, in a film, show up. Seth and Evan think he's been busted, Fogell goes on a brief night out with the cops and everyone gets involved in all sorts of slapstick nonsense.
The film is a brief and unwanted glimpse at what it was like to be a specific age during which nothing but the usual things on display here existed in your own universe. It is a sad take on a generation of males, all of whom are portrayed as they are in this piece. There is supposed to be some sort of social class antagonism unfolding, what with the banter about one person getting into a 'better' college than the other one but it isn't developed at all, whereas the 'frienship coming apart at the seams' narrative which opens up towards the end is limp and forced – I didn't fall for it in 2003's 'After School Special' and I'm not falling for it here. Superbad is a mess, made popular only by the youngsters hungry for another Kevin Smith (whom I additionally don't particularly like) inspired, crass take on youth life of a male in crisis and critics out for cheap laughs, whilst desperately attempting to seem 'down' with today's youth. It's the American version of 2004's Sex Lives of the Potato Men narrowed down into a 12 hour time-frame and with a little more talking about sex rather than indulging in such acts. Such a statement ought to be enough to steer anyone clear of this mess.