2008 Woodie Awards
'Superbad' a hilariously vulgar hit
Curtis Thom
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: After Hours
- Page 1 of 1
What seems like yesterday, I went to "Knocked Up" and believed I had seen the funniest movie of the year.
Then I saw "Superbad."
It seems as if great comedies come along only every two years or so. Before "Knocked Up," the last great comedy I'd seen was "Anchorman," and I didn't think "Knocked Up" would be topped any time soon.
Then I saw "Superbad."
Vulgarity in comedy reached a pinnacle in "Knocked Up," surpassing "Anchorman" as the raunchiest movie ever.
Then I saw "Superbad."
The first hint of a movie being hilarious is people leaving the theater with smiles.
In "Superbad's" case, people were coming out with beet-red faces, mimicking lines to their friends, and leaning on each other to ensure they didn't collapse in laughter. All good signs.
In the movie, Seth (Jonah Hill - that one fat guy from "Accepted") and Evan (Michael Cera - that one skinny guy from "Arrested Development") decide to capitalize on their last few weeks in high school by reforming their image.
They attempt to do so by promising select members of the long-desired and long-feared opposite sex an endless supply of beer, with the help of the uber-nerdy friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, that guy from... well, "Superbad") and his fresh-from-the-laminator fake ID.
As Fogell attempts to purchase a ridiculous amount of booze, he is punched by a hooded robber, which gives way to the introduction of the movie's funniest characters.
Officers Slater (Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live") and Michaels (Seth Rogen from "Knocked Up") offer to take Fogell, who claims he is 25, to his desired party after they "finish their work."
What work they have. These two are the most inept (but lovable) cops in movie history. They blare their sirens and speed ahead every time they come to a red light, and get to police work in between rounds of drunken target practice.
Seth and Evan, thinking Fogell is busted, resort to alternative methods to getting the alcohol and becoming glory boys and getting ... well ... lucky.
The movie is not just funny, but intensely funny. It never stops turning out the laughs.
The thing that drew me in was how it tapped into the keg of '80s teenager flicks, drawing out a sweet and funny movie with so many jokes that it shows no mercy.
"Superbad" is not for everyone. The movie surely at least ties "The Big Lebowski" in f-bombs. But those who can handle the barrage of jokes about alcohol, drugs, sex, body parts and menstruation (just wait) will thoroughly enjoy this movie and sit in slackjawed wonder at its incredible vulgarity.
Then I saw "Superbad."
It seems as if great comedies come along only every two years or so. Before "Knocked Up," the last great comedy I'd seen was "Anchorman," and I didn't think "Knocked Up" would be topped any time soon.
Then I saw "Superbad."
Vulgarity in comedy reached a pinnacle in "Knocked Up," surpassing "Anchorman" as the raunchiest movie ever.
Then I saw "Superbad."
The first hint of a movie being hilarious is people leaving the theater with smiles.
In "Superbad's" case, people were coming out with beet-red faces, mimicking lines to their friends, and leaning on each other to ensure they didn't collapse in laughter. All good signs.
In the movie, Seth (Jonah Hill - that one fat guy from "Accepted") and Evan (Michael Cera - that one skinny guy from "Arrested Development") decide to capitalize on their last few weeks in high school by reforming their image.
They attempt to do so by promising select members of the long-desired and long-feared opposite sex an endless supply of beer, with the help of the uber-nerdy friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, that guy from... well, "Superbad") and his fresh-from-the-laminator fake ID.
As Fogell attempts to purchase a ridiculous amount of booze, he is punched by a hooded robber, which gives way to the introduction of the movie's funniest characters.
Officers Slater (Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live") and Michaels (Seth Rogen from "Knocked Up") offer to take Fogell, who claims he is 25, to his desired party after they "finish their work."
What work they have. These two are the most inept (but lovable) cops in movie history. They blare their sirens and speed ahead every time they come to a red light, and get to police work in between rounds of drunken target practice.
Seth and Evan, thinking Fogell is busted, resort to alternative methods to getting the alcohol and becoming glory boys and getting ... well ... lucky.
The movie is not just funny, but intensely funny. It never stops turning out the laughs.
The thing that drew me in was how it tapped into the keg of '80s teenager flicks, drawing out a sweet and funny movie with so many jokes that it shows no mercy.
"Superbad" is not for everyone. The movie surely at least ties "The Big Lebowski" in f-bombs. But those who can handle the barrage of jokes about alcohol, drugs, sex, body parts and menstruation (just wait) will thoroughly enjoy this movie and sit in slackjawed wonder at its incredible vulgarity.
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