The child of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, “Superbad” is the story of a young Jonah Hill and Michael Cera attempting to lose their virginity before leaving home for college. Written when Rogen and Goldberg were in middle school, “Superbad” wasn’t released until eleven years later. The story, loosely based on the real life events of Seth and Evan’s high school adventures, is a coming-of-age comedy film which follows Seth and Evan, who make a pact to lose their virginities before going their separate ways. The performances from Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, and Michael Cera make this one of the best comedic movies of my generation.
Before we get into the meat of this movie, let me discuss some of the less important things. One aspect of this movie that is just average is the cinematography. Obviously, this movie wasn’t advertised for its beauty shots, so it should come to no surprise that “Superbad” doesn’t feature any sweeping landscapes. Additionally, the editing is just average at best. While there aren’t any moments in the film where I can say “wow, that scene was very well edited,” there are certainty no edits that take me out of the movie. While these aspects may be inadequate, the acting, character development, story, dialogue, and soundtrack, all make up for these lacking elements.
Now, let me discuss what this film does well. First off, the many different locations that Rogen and Goldberg wrote in were perfect, allowing Jonah Hill and Michael Cera to shine. Many of the locations that Seth and Evan end up are so ridiculous, that they remind me of some of the antics I got into during high school. One of the reasons why this movie is so entertaining is because of how relatable it is. Like Seth and Evan, I was once a senior in high school leaving for college. The way “Superbad” was filmed is a perfect depiction of what most immature high schoolers do before leaving for college. The settings are used perfectly to set-up the story, propelling Seth and Evan’s adventure further. While the plot may seem ridiculous, the events that occur throughout the movie make for pure comedy gold.
The story begins when Seth and Evan are invited to an end of the year party by Seth’s crush, Jules. Trying to impress Jules, Seth agrees to supplying alcohol for the party. When their friend Fogell, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, buys a fake ID, they go to the liquor store where he works at to pick up the liquor for Jules and her friends. When a burglar robs the liquor store while Fogell is using his horrible fake ID, he befriends two policemen played by Rogen and Hader. The film then follows Seth and Evan’s journey to find alcohol while Fogell runs around drunkenly with the immature yet hilarious, police officers.
Bill Hader and Seth Rogen in a scene from “Superbad” (Columbia Pictures, 2007).
Jonah Hill’s foul-mouthed character is perfectly offset by the cool and calm demeanor of Michael Cera’s character. As Seth Rogen put it in an interview with GQ, he said the script was supposed to be a “straight man and a funny guy, but he [Michael Cera] made the straight man just as funny as the funny guy.” While some jokes could come off as somewhat childish, Hill and Cera did a wonderful job in their delivery. Cera’s awkward and dry humor shines in this film, as in many of the scenes, his character is forced into uncomfortable situations. Hill on the other hand is a loud-mouthed and eccentric character who is constantly running his mouth towards his friends.
The development of these characters throughout the film is perfect. As the story goes on, Seth and Evan’s task of finding women strains their relationship, as Seth wants to get Jules drunk to sleep with her while Evan wants to start a meaningful connection with Becca, the girl of his dreams, without the need of alcohol. By the end of the film, we see Seth and Evan’s relationship grow, as they begin to realize that they won’t be at the same school the following year. Fogell forms a real bond with the policemen, as he finally finds friends who truly appreciate him. Unlike Seth and Evan, Officer Slater (Hader) and Officer Michaels (Rogen) care for Fogell. Even though they know he isn’t 21, Slater and Michaels drink and party with Fogell anyway.
The final aspect of this film that wraps everything together is the soundtrack. Of course you have the opening theme song, with silhouettes of Seth and Evan dancing along to the music. Lyle Workman did a great job in this film, as he was one of the main composers along with songs by The Bar-Kays, Curtis Mayfield, and The Roots.
“Superbad”is my favorite comedic film of all time. The performances by Hill, Cera, Hader, Mintz-Plasse, and Rogen are all wonderful. The story, while a little childish, is a hilarious representation of two high school boys trying to have the time of their lives before they go their separate ways in life. The development of these characters is fantastic, as we get to see the highs and lows of Seth and Evan’s relationship. The comedic timing is on point, giving special praise to Michael Cera and Bill Hader. If you want a good laugh, this movie is a must watch.
