Rating: 4 Pulses
Michael Cera, Johan Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader
Directed by Greg Mottola
Rated R
The Judd Apatow comedy troupe is in an enviable position. In the past few years, the mainstream American comedy has become the most reliable genre in Hollywood. At the middle of this renaissance is Apatow’s team, whose Midas touch infused Anchorman, Talladega Nights, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and this summer’s smash, Knocked Up.
Their brand of comedy works for one reason: it’s honest and relatable. Apatow and his stable of talent (Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, etc.) have successfully mastered the portrayal of freaks and geeks in search of love.
Apatow takes a producer’s role in the Rogen-penned Superbad, a devilishly clever adolescent anthem dedicated to the pursuit of sex and booze. Given this group’s penchant for delivering comedy gold lately, some critics have been falling all over themselves to proclaim Superbad this generation’s American Graffiti.
Let’s get one thing out of the way: Superbad isn’t American Graffiti. It isn’t Dazed and Confused. Heck, it isn’t even The Breakfast Club. But, if you toss away any pre-conceived notions of a classic, what you’ll find is another uproariously profane tale of misguided guys and the misguided quests they embark upon.
Superbad, like most great high school movies, takes place during a 24-hour period. Evan (Cera) and Seth (Hill) are best friends yearning for sex before graduation. With the help of the nerdy Fogell (Mintz-Plasse), a.k.a. McLovin, they set out to supply alcohol to a party where their potential hookups are waiting.
Of course, the seemingly simple plan goes awry. McLovin gets detained by two juvenile cops (Hader and Rogen), while Evan and Seth are dragged to another party by an unwanted guest. When the trio finally reconvenes, they tackle the graduation party in an all-out effort to fulfill their fantasies.
In line with other Apatow films, Superbad effectively serves up its sass with a side of sweet. As the convoluted night unfolds, we find unexpected depth from the five major players. The casting is also top-notch, from the pitch-perfect Mintz-Plasse to the lovable, but not overtly sexy girls they pursue.
With Superbad poised to become another late-summer hit, this ensemble has cemented their status atop the comedic mantle. To paraphrase McLovin, they definitely know what time it is.
