Superbad (2007) - Originally Written 7/2/12

 Superbad (2007)

Watching the Movie: 

Bi-polar, foul mouthed and in many ways lowest common denominator character humor. This movie is pretty much the antithesis in almost every possible way of the only other film I screened for brain cleansing this summer, "Napolean Dynamite" (2004). The viewer's level of enjoyment is completely correlated to exactly how funny "teenagers" constant swearing at one another and using gross out humor is. The brilliant characters of Slater, Michaels, and Fogal/McLovin, actually shine in this movie in spite of everyone else, not along with them.

Screening the Film: 

Co-dependance and unhealthy relationships; (bordering on latent homosexuality) "Teen Movie" imagery (High School experience from a student's perspective, societal norms and behaviors, intimacy between young persons both in sexual and non-sexual terms) Images of language and priorities, social awkwardness (with special attention on courting and reproductive practices), Law Enforcement behaviors and practices (this actually is a SCATHING critique to someone who takes the imagery seriously), and of course an interesting historical context; given that the film is set in 2007; but generally feels more like a film from the mid-late 1970's.

Best Dialogue: 

Evan: Stay calm, okay? Let's not lose our heads. It's... it's a fine ID; it'll... it's gonna work. It's passable, okay? This isn't terrible. I mean, it's up to you, Fogell. This guy is either gonna think 'Here's another kid with a fake ID' or 'Here's McLovin, a 25 year-old Hawaiian organ donor'. Okay? So what's it gonna be?

Fogell: [grinning] ... I am McLovin!

The Bottom Line:

 It's really hard to believe that this movie is almost 5 years old and was a cultural phenomenon when it came out. It's a MUCH better film than it is a movie, especially considering as a movie, it hasn't aged particularly well. It was pretty much the seminal piece for what became the "R-Rated Comedy" but there's a reason that genre has become so watered down and generally avoided, there's only so many ways you can drop F-bombs and gross out humor and it still be funny. For such a quintessential piece of "entertainment" this movie sure does overstay it's welcome.

3 out of 5.


 

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