2.2 Superbad

When I was first planning and deciding upon which of my favourite films to include in Post 2.2, I knew for sure that Superbad would definitely be mentioned, however what I didn't expect was to later be writing a separate review on a film which I didn't know I had this much to talk about.

This 2007, American coming-of-age teen comedy directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg, stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera on there last cruise and journey to both to party and finally lose their virginity's before high school graduation. As like many teenagers can probably relate, the idea first was founded and script developed when both producers were just 13 years old and had loosely similar experiences back in 12th Grade. As this being a core reason for why the main protagonists have the same given names as the writers. Although Seth Rogen was initially due to and intended to play Seth, but after several years and by the time the script was ready to be shot, his age and physical size had changed and wasn't suitable enough to play a so called teenager. With them later casting Jonah Hill, who was being lined up for the role whilst Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen were shooting, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. As Michael Cera was later casted as his best friend Evan, whilst Seth Rogan wrote in the parts of some irresponsible police officers which he later portrayed alongside Saturday Night Live star Bill Hader. With the film receiving a highly positive reception as critics praised it for it's dialogue and especially on-screen chemistry between the two leads, making it an authentic take on friendship and the overall overarching pressure and awkwardness of high school. With it arguably a masterpiece in terms of the teen comedy genre as it's further and basically the quintessential millennial movie that is just a must watch. Further adding, founding and making it's success was due to the raunchy, sharp comedy movies, that were at an all time high, with Seth Rogan being a familiar face in this particular era, generation and style of filmmaking. Whereas the plot is slightly put aside and doesn't totally matter as much, as long as the main core of actors are witty and comical enough. After another film, started this particular era of movies which was mainly led and formed by Judd Apatow after his films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin started and set the trend for arguably too many thin plots and subsequent premises that just weren't entertaining and rather boarded on the line of dreadful. With it clear to see although some complete classics were established and produced, this particular era and style of comedy in the end was it's own downfall. As often a lot of the same actors were cast, meaning you ended up watching too many films with them in and gradually over time becoming more bored and restless. Or you just didn't watch them to begin with and we're therefore kinda screwed from the start.

But to understand what makes Superbad a great comedy and possibly the best teen comedy of all time, you first have to know what makes a bad one. Although there are many elements which can end up making a movie bad, there's one element in particular that, if not executed right can totally ruin a movie and that's bad pacing. Pacing has always been critical in any type of movies, but especially and most importantly in comedies, as often bad comedies often place and segment all there craziest and funniest moments together in the beginning of the film to best capture your attention and make you laugh early on. With the end result being that you've probably experienced the high of the film earlier one as there's therefore nothing left or little to be desired later on. Making for a pretty dull, tedious and boring rest of the film. One great example of bad pacing, is in the first bridesmaid, with arguably the craziest and funniest thing in the entire movie, happening in the first third. As the rest, never truly lives up to that hype. After therefore it often leaves audiences expecting and earning for such a high once again but only to never get it. Whereas in the 1959 comedy, Some Like it Hot, which is considered by many, to be one of the greatest comedies ever produced the funniest and most memorable moments come right at the end of the film.

Although it can be often hard, to talk about comedies in a subjective and critical way because after all comedy is subjective. But like any other art form in the world, there's a matter of principle and such a way to get it right. With this being something Superbad manages to achieve. As a good comedy manages to pace itself just right, so that it tends to escalation whilst gradually building up the events of the film. Whilst also keeping a steady stream of the funnies to keep and ensure we're not getting bored or just waiting for the next big moment to happen. With Superbad achieving this, making it therefore one of the best comedies of it's era. As it throughout constantly and consistently stays funny and relatable, but also not to exaggerated that it becomes cheap or cliché. With the characters never stopping or rather disrupting the pace and flow of the movie, to specifically tell a joke. As everything just feels right and natural. As the movie is packed with a whole range of big funny moments, but which for the large part are situated towards the end of movie to best create that climatic effect once you've left the cinema. With the movie earlier on using generative and ordinary moments to explain such situations and predicaments the characters are facing. Such as there current romantic issues and deemed failures which are expressed through a sequence in a gas station. As after a few minutes the film has told you basically everything important about these characters and the subsequent story ahead. Meaning everything else that is unexpected and shocking from this point is just made funnier. Rather than if we'd seen it coming, expected it or if it had been previously mentioned. As this better suits the movie due it happening once again in a natural, relatable way.

This would often seem an obvious thing to do right, the dialogue should always service the story rather than vice versa, however this element and technique in particular has ended up being a huge failure and problem for any watched comedy movie from this era or since. With there being a seemingly imperfect balance between what's funny and natural to what the filmmakers want to actually do instead. As you constantly feel that Superbad is a whole collaboration of what's both funny, relatable as well as natural to the filmmakers desires. Whilst the right balance of story and humor allows for Superbad to naturally tell the story it wants to tell. But rather also disguise itself as a raunchy, teen sex comedy as well as being a surprisingly tender coming-of-age story about two best, inseparable friends. Although sex might be the announced goal of the characters, we as the viewers know better and aren't rather entirely convinced by that either. As what's further shown through those exact, hilarious yet awkward scenes, making it clearly not the point of the movie and instead a sub-plot of sorts. With the movie's seemingly simple plot actually being rather more complex, as it's because of its complexities, that Superbad ends up getting a lot of it's overall charm and purpose. Whereas the real story is a lot more subtle and more relatable, with some viewers maybe needing a second watch, to better realise it.

As the main premise and plot of the movie is rather, two best inseparable friends who are now high school seniors and are attempting, for better or worse, to prove their worth at an end of the year party. Evan played by Michael Cera, doesn't really care about getting laid as he rather wants to instead get closer to the girl he likes. Whilst in the meantime also trying and attempting to distance himself from his best friend Seth, who he secretly thinks has been holding him back from enjoying his years in high school. Whilst Seth on the other hand played by Jonah Hill has a much bigger, burning desire for the total opposite. As he'd much prefer getting laid before going off to college, but this instead stems from his own lack of confidence, vulnerability and insecurities. With him deep down knowing he's been secretly holding Evan back for their whole childhood, resulting in him often acting out and seeming a lot more of douchebag than he actually is. With his crude actions and words stemming from an idea that people otherwise just wouldn't take him seriously enough. As the films also stars love interest Jules played by Emma Stone, Joe Lo Truglio and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Although whilst all this is happening, Christopher Mintz-Plasse character Fogle, has an entirely different storyline and subsequent story arc from the rest of the characters. With this teen story about sex and horny high school graduates looking like it on the surface, but instead rather what really carries the movie is nothing other than the characters and performances themself. As Michael Cera seemingly does his normal thing which balances perfectly with Jonah Hill, whilst a lot these actors weren't really on a lot of peoples radar before the movie came out. With it almost feeling as if I knew people like this in high school, which only generates and empathises its narrative, likeability and connection with people further.

As often the key to great comedy, which I'm sure a lot of people already know, is it's memorability. With what often makes a good comedy into a great one, or else a memorable one, is if it's quotable. Otherwise it's more likely to just die, with often a lot of quoted and memorable lines being the ones that just aren't the funniest at all, but at least make the movie more memorable in the end. Personally it's rather the characters or actors performances along with the dialogue itself, that can make certain moments memorable or quotable enough. Or if the characters that are speaking the dialogue and lines only make the quote better. As it's careful to understand how both knowing or being told all the funny quotes before a movie will probably just ruin it whereas being able to re-watch a comedy and still laugh and quote the lines, probably makes it a great one. As this is the case with Superbad, which has so many great moments that even if you were to be told them or spoilt them beforehand, you'd probably still laugh. Personally this is why Superbad and other personal favourite comedies of mine, are my favorite after all. It could be one inconsequential line or phrase or even any action that transports you back into an instant moment of hysteria. Or even any particular on going joke throughout the movie, such as how often Michael Cera's character Evan is claimed to look like somebody else's brother. With the laughs coming from the line delivery themselves and or the relevant actions or facial expressions that accompany them.

As the best and arguably both the funniest and most memorable scene of all is the Fake ID, Mclovin sequence. With it easily, one of the best crafted and comedic exchanges of all time. Making Superbad instantly memorable as often you might hear is Superbad the film with Mclovin in. With people loving and taking away the whole absurdity of the situation. Whilst the Movie is able to resonate so incredibly well with people of early ages, specially myself and those who were old enough when it came out, millennials. As even Tyler, The Creator tweeted how even he thinks Superbad is entirely the best comedy for people of our generation and personally I think he's completely right.

With it due to and down to the movies incredible, genuine spirit and presentation of what late teenage life is like. As well as the daunting pressures of making those first steps into college and being more than ever closer to adulthood. Nor, though does the movie over romanticize high school, or create a really disturbing, gritty representation of it either. Mainly because it's just not important, as everything else that goes on around the plot is subtle but realistic enough. Giving and forcing all our attention into what the movies core focus is, the characters. With there being no cool, popular kids or jocks because they simply don't matter or wouldn't add anything to the story. Rather would they just take up more screen time and subsequently take the screen time away from those characters that matter most. Whilst the main characters aren't also down the other end of the spectrum in high school either, as there dorky but not cartoonishly nerdy either. Whereas in the end, it's a movie about and involving characters who are low in confidence and possibly even are unsure about there standing in the world. That's why I take a slightly different reading from the film with it making it so much more personal, believable and relatable. As I feel like I've experienced if not the same but similar problems when growing up and trying to navigate through high school along with all the added pressure and spotlight of trying to keep up with your peers. Whilst instead the truth is, you set the pace of when and how you grow up and that instead of feeling alone and wrongful about your insecurities and vulnerability, it's instead alright and a good sign that your nothing but at least human. As it's for this reason that it continues to set Superbad aside, As I think that not many other comedies have this much off level of personal insight and meaning too them.

As these insecurities and sensibilities continue away from the main characters as well, as you can often see that still in some of the side characters that enough time and thought has gone into considering what those characters might be thinking and feeling to. It's even true in the Adults, as you can both feel sorry and laugh but yet still see how hurt Officer Slater, played by Bill Hader, feels when talking about how his ex-wife cheated on him. In some truly disturbing yet still unforgettable ways.

With it in the end a story and development about not only coming of age or acting up but rather getting and building enough confidence to talk to your crush or finally get laid. Which is something that most people can relate to, as often the movie showcases seemingly not crazy enough scenarios, that likely people like you and me have either experienced or could do in the future. Such as buying alcohol without a legal ID, eating alone in the lunchroom or getting separated from the only person you know at a party and in the meantime get stuck in an awkward situation. Or as simply as just trying to make moves on someone, you either don't know that well, think you haven't got a chance with or don't realise might actually like you back too because for even one moment, you can't imagine what that would look like let alone feel. With these all common things that aren't entirely uncommon to experience as a young adult, although it's safe to say you won't be damaging, burning and shooting guns with the police anytime soon. But really that's just there to build and make the story a little Spicer, as that particular storyline never truly disrupts from the important stuff going on in the film. As it still instead carries and tries to communicate the films messages, but yet in a more crazy and shocking way. As what's more surprising than the themes itself is that a comedy with those morals and messages has been made funny at all. With Superbad instead just straightforward, with it's focus purely on it's simplicity and balance, whilst often a lot other movies are relying on over-the-top situations or characters to make them well known and memorable. With it interesting to see a movie that instead is just focused on it's story as it manages and achieves to balance everything else so perfectly, therefore meaning your not reliant or needing for anything to be crazy.

Whilst when you strip the story down to it's bare bones, it's a story about two best friends that gradually realise they have an unconditional love for one another, whilst still being unable to inevitably avoid drifting apart from one another. With the fear of separation also playing into the characters actions and motives. As this yet is another thing most people have to face and or have a perspective on whilst growing up, with it brilliantly suiting and aiming for it's target demographic. As I also feel kinda lucky to have not one, not two but rather a series of really personal and funny comedies that I can re-watch over and over and still find entertaining and prefect. With eventually the characters getting what they want from the beginning of the story, but rather instead at a cost as they lost what for sure the one thing they knew, had and could always rely upon, there friendship. Making it truly the best definition and representation of a bittersweet ending. 4.25/5 Stars