Superbad is Supergood

You'll notice there's something wrong in the picture above. Go ahead and guess. We never see a guy like McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fogell, left) actually dance with Nicola (Aviva Farber, right). As we grow up, however, we learn that the should doesn't really matter and we move past it. This is the heart of Superbad, a night of misadventure where best friends deal with seperating and desperate attempts to win over their girls.

Weeks before graduation, Superbad follows the attempts of pudgy Seth (Jonah Hill) and skinny, nervous Evan (Michael Cera) as they intend to impress the girls of their dreams by getting alcohol, even though they are underage. (Note: Underage drinking and driving under the influence is illegal and should not be attempted.) This is not just for themselves, but for a party that's not BYOB (bring your own beer), but instead BEOBAYO (Bring EveryOne Beer And Your Own). This leads them to team up with their sidekick, Fogell, who is so unpopular, even they don't want to hang out with him.

The movie is a semi-biography of its writers, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (note the first names match the characters) as they went through high school, who only think about one thing. But it is anything but magical, happy-dream endings of American Pie. They settle for the honest: guys are disgustingly perverted and girls don't always want/make bad decisions when drunk. Then again, the guys don't necessarily want that either.

The heart comes out as, on every level, the movie reflects real life: weeks before graduation, everyone does NOT get laid. They may round a base or two, but that's it. The perversions were probably real conversations with the real Seth and Evan back in the day, and everyone watching will understand the confusion and feelings of everyone in the movie. This hits home where other teen flicks lose touch with reality.

The only part not believable on some level are two cops, played by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader (both of Knocked Up, right), who have so much fun breaking the law, they make you want to become a cop for all the wrong reasons. They team bumb into Fogell with a fack ID with the name "McLovin." No last name, just McLovin. Like "Madonna."

Along the way, there are party fights, fleeing from the cops (as well as fleeing with them), committing various crimes that teenagers do in roudiness, and admitting personal feelings and worries, as well as rooting for Fogell and friends of the reject groupings.

This is not a movie for the easily offended. There are 184 uses for the F word, almost half of which come from a single character. This is one for the MPAA listings that had a "bone" to pick with whether or not to end up NC-17. I quote, " pervasive crude and sexual content, strong language, drinking, some drug use and a fantasy/comic violent image - all involving teens." It forgot illustrated nudity in the sexual content. Guys won't realize it until afterwards, but no boobs were revealed, yet it doesn't seem like they were necessarily missing from the movie because of it. Finally, a dirty, roudy comedy with taste. Gross, hilarious fun that is both mature and immature.

Is it entertaining? Yes, yes, and yes. That's a yes for each of the main characters. It's all-around funny.

Is it marketable? Yes. There is a time where some will object because of content, but this stands out as, unlike many of the movies about teens being roudy, this one will come off as timeless as it is about what teens have always tried to do: get alcohol and be awkward trying to get in bed.

Is it memorable? Yes. Everyone can relate to these guys, root for them in their attempts to escape to popularity and de-virginization as they discover being happy with themselves in a non-patronizing way.

My suggestion? It is a movie that keeps with the line of Knocked Up by beating the usual girl-gets-pregnant storyline on both the roudy and setimental ends, as well as the extreme humor of 40-Year-Old Virgin. If these are movies for you, definitely get the editions on DVD on Tuesday, December 4th. As always, if you're ordering online, please support this site by making any purchases using the links below or the Amazon search located between the news and the "about me."