Dirty, vulgar, inappropriate...and also pretty darn funny

Rating: 7/10 (7 September 2007)

I won't rave about Superbad. I honestly didn't feel like it had the clever dirty wit of 'Knocked Up' or even '40 Year Old Virgin' and yet it had a certain charm and there was NO doubt that everyone I watched this with in the theater thought it was downright hilarious. For me it wasn't quite that funny but it certainly had it's high points. I felt like maybe director Greg Mottola and creators/writers Seth Rogan, and Evan Goldberg maybe tried a little too hard to create something they had hoped would be a classic teen sex romp comedy and I guess they did just fine since that's exactly what most are saying it is and will be. Most are even comparing it to the original American Pie which I think is true honor. The unknown cast was a great idea and they do a terrific job, and the film certainly has some memorable enough moments. A lot of the things that others seem to find so hilariously funny seemed to me to be a little recycled and seen before type comedy but there was also a lot of very funny physical comedy and one liners and probably a lot of realistic teenage moments as well. One of the most clever and endearing parts of this film is the way that it is presented. It would appear as though the film takes place in the seventies with music, and the opening scene disco dancing against flashing colors and the cars and some of the clothing but it is a modern day film where they carry cell phones and visit malls and it kind of makes the film sort of timeless and baby boomers and teenagers today can enjoy the same.
The cast is headed by two basically newcomers. Jonah Hill is the portly, wild haired youngster playing Seth and he is damn hilarious. He is dirty mouthed, wild eyed and horny and his one liners and sarcasm is just awesome. He also does some really terrific physical comedy getting hit by a car twice, hit with a bat, beat up and more!! Hill is sure to be a star and his career will get jumpstarted with this film. His co-star and conspirator in the film is Michael Cera. Although he has had a varied career this is really his first starring role. He has a much more pure and innocent nice guy role than Hill's wild character. Still they have awesome chemistry together and they balance each other nicely. Both of them will fare well in the future. I hope they team up again. Making his movie debut as the third muskateer is Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the hilariously geeky Fogell or better known as the infamous 'McLovin.' Even though he plays the stereotypical thick glasses 'geek' he actually turns out to be the coolest dude in the movie and he has a great role and plays off his co-stars very well. He could hold his own film as McLovin. Rounding out the cast as the hilariously inappropriate and over the top cops Slater and Michaels are co-writer Seth Rogan and the hilariously bizarre Bill Hader. They're the cops from hell but they keep the hilarity rolling and together with 'McLovin' (Mintz-Plasse) they are an amazing comedy trio. They just might be the highlight of the film.
This film will never impress too many critics or audiences if you go into it thinking this will be deep or important in ANY way. The film is incredibly shallow and only redeems itself as a complete (and very funny) joke in the end. It never tries to be emotional or important or even show any sort of moral. It's just a raunchy adventure to try and get booze for an underage party so they can get laid or so they think. The language is extreme, there is drug use and booze everywhere but it still manages to be a funny, well written comedy that will likely move into it's place with Animal House, and American Pie which is no small feat. If you can go into a movie and put your brain aside and not be offended than you'll see this cute little dirty movie for what it is. 7/10