Put a little McLovin in your heart

Rating: 8/10 (21 August 2007)

From "Porky's" to "American Pie", many comedies have been made about high schoolers attempting to lose their virginity before college. "Superbad" is the latest entry to throw its hat into this genre. This screamingly hilarious film is the latest hit from the team that has delivered "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up." As with their predecessors, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg concoct a script that is crude and over-the-top. But it also has heart. The talent and chemistry of stars Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, and new comer Christopher Mintz-Plasse make the characters entertaining and relatable to Joe Average movie-goer.
Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) have been best friends for life. Weeks away from separating for college, they seek to hook up with their two dream girls: Becca and Jules (Martha MacIsaac, Emma Stone). As they plan to participate in one of the year's last parties, they must enlist the help of their friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Passe) and his newly acquired fake I.D. to buy alcohol. But the road to the Promised Land is filled with buffoonish cops, drunken strangers, and debauched parties. Evan, Seth, and Fogell must conquer these obstacles before they can reach their dates.
Greg Mottola has a good eye in capturing comedy. He does not just point the camera while the actors do their thing. He focuses on the whole setting because that is where most of the jokes are played. This is evident right from the opening scene between Seth and Evan's mom. Mottola also is expert in catching the reactions of the characters. Every awkward rambling and shocked expression adds to the comedic effect of the jokes. Mottola's direction ensures that not only will the fans see the joke but feel it as well.
In a genre such as this, it is difficult to keep coming up with more outlandish circumstances and humor. Rogen and Goldberg more than meet that challenge. Right off the bat, they throw in outrageous jokes that are akin to this form of comedy. Physical humor is also prevalent in the movie by the all the accidents that befall Seth. Fans will be grateful to know that the writers' creation of McLovin is played out prevalently throughout the film. The jokes that stem from that character are practically worth the price of admission. Another great feature that they kept from "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up" is to give the script heart. True, the film comprises of many jokes you wouldn't tell you mother. But the ending point is not always the raunchy objective of just getting laid.
Michael Cera and Jonah Hill have great chemistry as Evan and Seth. They compliment each other so well that it is easy to believe that they are best friends. Tapping into his George Michael days on "Arrested Development", Cera is a natural in playing his character's awkwardness and nervousness. Though there are times when it feels Cera is almost rehashing his television character, he also makes Evan a more headstrong and more determined character. He is quick with the comebacks and speaks more freely than audiences have been used to. It is a refreshing change and one that Cera fits in very easily. Hill also steps out of his range of the nervous, uncomfortable nerd and plays Seth as more crude and hilarious than we've seen him before. Hill is not only quicker with the delivery but also endures the brunt of the physical humor. Like Cera, he also seems at ease with the new character and style and could parlay this into a great comedic success. But the show stealer is the man who will forever be dubbed McLovin: Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Mintz-Plasse seems to have the most fun with the role and just ran with the name and character. For his first time on screen, Mintz-Plasse shows excellent comedic chops. Not only does he play up the clumsy teen role but also ad-libs brilliantly in his fake persona. Mintz-Plasse is smart enough to not overplay the character but feeds off of the reactions and lines of the cast. The great talent of these gentlemen also makes the audience want to cheer them on as they pursue their goal. They draw in the audience to feel their dilemmas and triumphs that they really become sympathetic characters rather than just horny nerds. Also look out for a terrific comedic performance by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader as bumbling police officers who encounter the soon-to be-famous McLovin.
"Superbad" is a can't-miss humor fest. It is so uproariously funny that it has to be seen a second time just to hear the jokes you might have laughed over the first time. Along with the script, the cast is the best decision for the film. The chemistry is so in sync that it is possible to believe that Cera, Hill, and Mintz-Plasse have known each other for years. The female leads of Martha MacIsaac and Emma Stone play the more straight characters but are also not made overly attractive so as to make Cera's and Hill's pursuits unbelievable. "Superbad" is simply comedic gold that will put a little McLovin in your heart.
SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS BY DORKUS MALORKUS GRADE: B+