Super-average plot for super-funny Superbad
Based on the stereotypical teen comedy plot-wise, Superbad takes it to the next level with exceptional comedic writing.
Typical high school geeks teetering on the outskirts of the in-crowd, Seth (Jonah Hill of I heart Huckabees) and Evan (Michael Cera of “Arrested Development”) are on a quest to conquer the two most important milestones before they graduate: Sex and buying alcohol.
Although comparative to predecessors Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle and American Pie, Superbad takes the teen comedy to another level by honestly portraying how two 17-year-old guys talk. While other teen titles fly under the radar and stick PG guidelines, Superbad went to town with the R rating and actually included dialogue that normal, albeit hilarious, teens would say.
Example #1: Seth: “By the time college rolls around I'll be like the Iron Chef of pounding vag.”
Written by well-known comedic actor Seth Rogen (40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) and childhood friend and writer Evan Goldberg (“Ali-G Show”), Superbad is based on their close-to-real life experiences growing up in Vancouver.
At 19-years-old Cera has already mastered comedic silence and timing, thanks to his role as George Michael on “Arrested Development” and his CBS Internet television series “Clark and Michael.” At one point Evan finds himself in a room of cokeheads that mistake him for a guy who has a “beautiful voice.” Naturally, the only solution to the problem is for Evan to full-out belt “These Eyes” by The Guess Who. I'm not sure if it was the giver-shit vocal performance or the sway-side-to-side dance that Cera paired it with, but that performance is one of the funniest in the film.
While Cera stands out in Superbad, Hill delivers just as many, if not more, laughs. Seth, who instigates the pressure of getting laid and soliciting underage booze, gets hit by two cars, in a fight and becomes the hero of the high schoolers when he finally delivers the goods, all before getting too plastered to get it on with his crush.
The already infamous McLovin' (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) fills the geek quota in the film, by obtaining a fake Hawaiian ID barring the name McLovin'. He spends the night drinking, shooting guns and reaping havoc with two police officers (Rogen and Bill Hater) only to be cocked-blocked by them in the end.
Example #2 Cop: “We just cock blocked McLovin'. We should be cock guiders, not cock blockers.”
Although the McLovin' scenes are funny, they pale in comparison to scenes that feature Hill and Cera. It was as if the writers were banking on Rogen's star appeal and gave him as much screen time possible, while cutting back on the more younger characters.
Like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Dazed and Confused, and American Pie, Superbad will take its place of over-watched teen comedies, but for good reason.
Typical high school geeks teetering on the outskirts of the in-crowd, Seth (Jonah Hill of I heart Huckabees) and Evan (Michael Cera of “Arrested Development”) are on a quest to conquer the two most important milestones before they graduate: Sex and buying alcohol.
Although comparative to predecessors Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle and American Pie, Superbad takes the teen comedy to another level by honestly portraying how two 17-year-old guys talk. While other teen titles fly under the radar and stick PG guidelines, Superbad went to town with the R rating and actually included dialogue that normal, albeit hilarious, teens would say.
Example #1: Seth: “By the time college rolls around I'll be like the Iron Chef of pounding vag.”
Written by well-known comedic actor Seth Rogen (40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) and childhood friend and writer Evan Goldberg (“Ali-G Show”), Superbad is based on their close-to-real life experiences growing up in Vancouver.
At 19-years-old Cera has already mastered comedic silence and timing, thanks to his role as George Michael on “Arrested Development” and his CBS Internet television series “Clark and Michael.” At one point Evan finds himself in a room of cokeheads that mistake him for a guy who has a “beautiful voice.” Naturally, the only solution to the problem is for Evan to full-out belt “These Eyes” by The Guess Who. I'm not sure if it was the giver-shit vocal performance or the sway-side-to-side dance that Cera paired it with, but that performance is one of the funniest in the film.
While Cera stands out in Superbad, Hill delivers just as many, if not more, laughs. Seth, who instigates the pressure of getting laid and soliciting underage booze, gets hit by two cars, in a fight and becomes the hero of the high schoolers when he finally delivers the goods, all before getting too plastered to get it on with his crush.
The already infamous McLovin' (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) fills the geek quota in the film, by obtaining a fake Hawaiian ID barring the name McLovin'. He spends the night drinking, shooting guns and reaping havoc with two police officers (Rogen and Bill Hater) only to be cocked-blocked by them in the end.
Example #2 Cop: “We just cock blocked McLovin'. We should be cock guiders, not cock blockers.”
Although the McLovin' scenes are funny, they pale in comparison to scenes that feature Hill and Cera. It was as if the writers were banking on Rogen's star appeal and gave him as much screen time possible, while cutting back on the more younger characters.
Like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Dazed and Confused, and American Pie, Superbad will take its place of over-watched teen comedies, but for good reason.
