Superbad; more like Kindagood
Written: Aug 17 '07
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Protagonists.
Cons: The cops... in the second act, anyway. Weak subplots.
The Bottom Line: is kindagood.
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| updateghost's Full Review: Superbad |
Judd Apatow and Co. are now the premiere American film comedians. Their cinematic sex romps exhibit impressive insight into the insecurities and pretensions of today's nerds and wasteoids; the loose, improvisional style also adds a comfortable, personal touch. Unfortunately, nearly every product from Apatow and his minions carries one slightly discouraging con: sequences that drag on and on without any good humor.
Take the second act of Superbad: here we are, practically suffocating at three of the most dorky and desperate teenagers we've ever seen, and then screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg throw two cops into the mix. Rogen and Bill Hader play up the officers to the best of their abilities, but almost nothing that the cops say is funny; they simply shoot out one perverse, "shocking" remark after another without conceiving any characterization worth chuckling over. It is a dull, boring dip in the movie's curve.
Before after that, the script creates some of 2007's most hilarious moments. Jonah Hill plays the same stereotypical overweight geek in most movies, but he's such an alluring persona that he could continue the act until his death and still attract audiences. He (as Seth) and his high-pitched buddy Evan (Michael Cera) are about to finish high school, and both of them are determined to drunk and laid before graduation. The scenes exploring their 18-year-old awkward are truthful and relatable; particular Evan's reaction when a girl catches him staring at her breasts.
Despite the midsection sinkhole, we care for their plight. But Rogen and Goldberg are determined to prevent Superbad from becoming Can't Hardly Wait Part XVI -- we meet some interesting characters along the way, and the resolution is extremely pleasing. Seth and Evan want to bring booze to a big party so that they could be "the guys that brought the booze," which is always awesome, or something. They contact Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a wannabe-gangster-geek who has a fake ID with the name "McLovin." The deliberations over the card are some of Superbad's most memorable.
Is this truly Superbad (which means supergood, supposedly)? It's more like "kindagood," as some guy from Slate would phrase it. Under Greg Mottola, the whole doesn't stand up to The 40 Year-Old Virgin or Knocked Up, but some of the best laughs are just as big.
Rating: the void between B and B-minus (71/100)
Recommended:
Yes
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updateghost
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Member: Tom Speaker
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