DVD Review: Superbad
Produced by comedy man-of-the-moment Judd Apatow, this smutty comedy hits DVD this week. After the success of Knocked Up, star of that hit, Seth Rogan writes this tale of three teenage friends who embark on a wild night of drink, partying and girls before they head off to college. It may sound like another generic teen comedy but Reel Weekend discovers a surprisingly touching tale which offers much more than it's set up might suggest.
In 2007, the world needed another raunchy teen comedy like Britney Spears needs another drink. Luckily, Superbad proved to be not only the best film of its type since the original American Pie, but also the year's funniest film.
Produced by man-of-the-moment Judd Apatow and co-written by his Knocked Up star Seth Rogan, Superbad tells a familiar tale: a pair of nerdy teens are about to leave for college, so decide to prepare by spending a night trying to buy booze and get laid.
Rogan and Evan Goldberg's script is absolutely filthy – the language here makes the likes of American Pie and Animal House seem almost prudish by comparison. But like the best films of this type there is a heart in there too. Our young heroes may only be interested in chicks and beer, but their friendship is believably written and warmly performed by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera.
And of course, Superbad has introduced the movie-going world to one of cinema's greatest-ever heroes: move over James Bond, Indiana Jones and Batman – it's time for McLovin! Wonderfully played by first-timer Christopher Mintz-Plasse, McLovin is a 25-year-old Hawaiian superstud in the body of a 16-year-old uber-nerd. If ever a character needed a spin-off move, it's this cool cat.
At two hours, Superbad is perhaps a bit long, and a subplot involving a pair of delinquent cops, while often very funny, detracts a little from the main story. But the laughs come thick and fast as the intrepid duo make their way across town to the party where they are convinced their teen dreams will come true.
Superbad arrives on DVD this weekend, and it's the sort of film made for the format – highly rewatchable, especially over a few beers.
Tell us what you think - click thumbs up or thumbs down.
- Your comments
Anonymous Coward 30 January 2008 01:53pm
tell the reviewer to keep his thumbs still dammit
Anonymous Coward 28 January 2008 10:10am
i also like to draw male genitals.
itstheruss 25 January 2008 05:17pm
Superbad is the best film i have seen in ages. McLovin is genius!
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cartman 05 February 2008 11:00am
This movie is shockingly poor. It claims on the box to be the best teen comedy since American pie - what a joke. There are a few hilarious moments in it but most of the time the awkwardness and disgusting behaviour of the lead actors is annoying, gross or over done that they kill any humour. Many teen movies have the nerd getting the hot girl but in this movie it's so unbelievable that the hot girls get with the ugly socially challenge boys with little or no effort that it just looks ridiculous. I'd give it 2/5 - 1 for McLovin ID card scenes and 1 for the cops who were mostly cool and almost, but not quiet saved the movie.
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