MasterChugs Theater: ‘Superbad’

Posted on September 5, 2008
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Yes, the teen sex comedy has been done to death. No, there is hardly a need for another movie with horny teenagers looking for a big score. Yet, Superbad is easily the new American Pie, and fully justifies its existence.

It takes one sequence for Superbad, directed by Greg Mottola but produced by Judd Apatow, to solidify itself as the new king of teenage sex embarrassment, and it happens to involve far more than man-playing-teenager-on-pie fornication. This is unquestionably crude, obnoxious, and flat-out offensive from the first words spoken in the movie. It’s targeting a specific crowd, and it simply nails the demographic flawlessly. Isn’t it just grand?

Written by Seth Rogen, last seen scoring in Knocked Up, and his childhood friend Evan Goldberg, Superbad follows two high school seniors — also named Seth and Evan — who together set off on a long night’s journey into the soul. Actually, what they do is try to booze up and party down with some school hotties during a night-town adventure in missed opportunities and unexpected revelations. Time is short: summer looms, as does the fall, when Evan will depart for Dartmouth alongside his classmate Fogell, leaving behind his academically challenged best friend, Seth. The future holds promise, even for Seth, yet also threatens the worst, especially if they don’t become some girl’s morning- after headache.

“We could be that mistake!”

Yes, expectations are low while panic and hope are desperately high-it’s just the life of another high-schooler. At least, you would think that. What with everyone so focused on the raunchiness, though, it comes as a complete surprise to find that Superbad is in fact a love story. The impending separation of Seth and Evan, combined with their sudden rift in status is taking a toll on the relationship, though neither friend is capable of effectively articulating the problem or admitting to the separation anxiety. The mounting tension between them is exacerbated by the fact that Evan may be sharing a room at college with their mutual friend, the über-nerd Fogell, whom Seth fears will somehow supplant him in Evan’s life.

That’s Superbad‘s clean little secret, the throwback thing that’s almost as fascinating to this seasoned female as the fabulous illustrations of male genitalia (clad in the raiment of superheroes) that Seth used to draw in grade school. For all the boasts about banging, the scramble to buy booze, the elaborate teen-male nightmare horror at the sight of scary menstrual blood from some girl’s mysterious Down There Zone, the movie doesn’t stray from a path of righteousness. This notion of a wild party is so safe, it might as well be an instance of approved Amish oat-sowing. We take his word that Evan has a crush on his nice classmate Becca, although we have no idea who she is besides a female person who, even when dangerously drunk and in the mood, doesn’t take off her bra. We agree to pretend to believe that Seth has plans to get it on with Jules, the impossibly perfect hottie who’s popular and not mean and retains her coolness although she doesn’t drink when all around her do.

In The 40 Year-Old Virgin, the desires of a sexually frightened early-middle-aged man meet up with the reality of a mature woman with her own wants. In Knocked Up, a younger skittish fellow faces the adult consequences of sexual activity with a semi-mature woman who has to figure out her own wants. We’re going back to the future, my friends: Jules is even less likely representing a real, live girl. I know that teen transformation is the point of Superbad‘s fantasy vibe, a story about boy friends, not the chicks who get in the way.

Even with the rapid pacing of the jokes, visual and dialogue driven, there still manages to be enough character development to drive a few key sequences. The ending is actually touching even after characters have been hit by cars (twice), become impossibly intoxicated, failed miserably with their sex life, and been knocked out cold by a carry-out bandit.

Two cops, played by writer Seth Rogen and Bill Hader, are the only out of place characters in the film. Their side adventures definitely go slightly over the top, and even in a film that is hardly reality based, suspension of disbelief isn’t strong enough for their final appearance and actions. It’s still incredibly funny, if not out of place.

There’s little question Jonah Hill steals this movie as Seth. His hilarious rants, absurdly stupid comebacks, and unbelievable sex drive are the sum of Superbad. Michael Cera, the only source of common sense in the movie, still manages to take over later scenes which are perfect in terms of his character.

The actual story here, nothing more than the eternal quest for booze, sex, and more booze, is merely a backdrop. Then again, few comedies are held together with their narrative, and it becomes secondary to the on-screen antics. That’s all Superbad needs to carry itself through nearly two hours of brilliant teen comedy.

Written by Chris "Chugs" Taylor