|
|
|
|
Superbad is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and starring Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. The film was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who began working on the script when they were both thirteen years old; they completed a draft by the time they were fifteen.[2] The film's main characters have the same given names as Rogen and Goldberg. The film was one of a string of hits by producer Judd Apatow, inspiring comparisons to Apatow's previous film, Knocked Up, which was released earlier in the summer.
Plot
It is two weeks before the end of high school. Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) are long-time friends in their senior year of high school, about to leave for different colleges. Their mutual friend, Fogell, (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) has plans to acquire a fake ID, so Seth agrees to buy alcohol for a party his crush, Jules (Emma Stone), is hosting. Evan also offers to buy vodka for his long time crush Becca (Martha MacIsaac). While purchasing the alcohol Fogell is assaulted by a hooded robber, and the police soon arrive. The two officers, Michaels (Seth Rogen) and Slater (Bill Hader), who appear to be fooled by the fake ID (which has the single name "McLovin" as his identity), offer Fogell a lift to the party. On the way, however, they make numerous stops. The officers display many instances of childish use of police powers, including stealing beers, drinking on the job, unnecessary use of police lights, and improper use of their firearms. While the police officers are talking to Fogell at the liquor store, Evan and Seth make the assumption that Fogell has been arrested. Seth is suddenly hit by a car, but seems uninjured. To avoid being reported, the driver (Joe Lo Truglio) agrees to take them to a party, where they reason they can steal the alcohol they need. However, the driver is not welcome at the party and is subsequently assaulted by the host, and Seth and Evan are forced to leave, but not before smuggling out alcohol. They happen upon Slater, Michaels, and Fogell in the police car. Officer Slater prepares to bust the teens but Evan runs off and the two officers chase while the reunited Seth and Fogell make off with the rest of the alcohol. The trio eventually make it to the party. At the party, a drunken Becca offers oral sex and vaginal sex with Evan in a secluded upstairs room, but Evan backs down with the excuse that he is too drunk, and a heavily intoxicated Becca ends up vomiting. A drunken Seth attempts to explain his feelings for Jules, but passes out from the drink and accidentally head-butts her, giving her a black eye. Fogell successfully seduces Nicola (Aviva Farber) and gets her into bed, only to have officers Slater and Michaels break up the party after only a few seconds of sex. Meanwhile, Seth carries Evan away to safety from the police officers. At Evan's house Seth reveals his love for Evan, who then reveals the feelings are mutual. They cuddle and fall asleep. Officers Slater and Michaels reveal to Fogell that they were aware of his forgery all along, and build camaraderie with Fogell, who asks them a favor in return for their intrusion upon his love making. So, they pretend to haul him off to jail in front of the entire party to boost his popularity. In return, Fogell signs an affidavit to a concocted story to explain the condition of the wrecked police car which they proceed to have fun destroying. The following morning, Evan and Seth run into Becca and Jules at the mall. After an awkward conversation about the mistakes of the previous night, Seth takes Jules to get cover up for her eye, while Evan takes Becca off to look for a replacement comforter for Jules. Cast
ReceptionAccording to Box Office Mojo, the film opened at #1 at the U.S. box office, grossing $33,052,411 in its opening weekend in 2,948 theaters with an average of $11,212 per theater.[3] The film stayed at #1 the second week, grossing $18,044,369.[3] As of January 3, 2008, the film has grossed an estimated $121,463,226 domestically, and $48,327,429 overseas, for a total of $169,860,655 worldwide. Compared to the relatively small budget of $20 million, the film was a massive financial profit. [1] The film is the highest domestic grossing high school comedy of all time.[4] As of October 11, 2007, the film-critics aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes listed 87% positive reviews based on 174 reviews (151 "fresh", 23 "rotten") with the consensus that it was "an authentic take on the awkwardness of the high school experience." It also has an 86% Cream Of The Crop rating. [5] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 76% based on 36 reviews.[6]. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle called it 2007's most successful comedy. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 1/2 stars (out of 4) and said "The movie reminded me a little of National Lampoon's Animal House, except that it's more mature, as all movies are."[7] Carina Chocano of the Los Angeles Times said "Physically, Hill and Cera recall the classic comic duos -- Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Aykroyd and Belushi. But they are contemporary kids, sophisticated and sensitive to nuance"; she added, "I hope it's not damning the movie with the wrong kind of praise to say that for a film so deliriously smutty, Superbad is supercute".[8] Sean Burns of Philadelphia Weekly said "2007: the year Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen saved movie comedy", a reference to Knocked Up which was released in June.[9] Devin Gordon of Newsweek said "As a Revenge of the Nerds redux, Superbad isn't perfect. But it's super close."[10] Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter, conversely, compared the film to the similar single-day structure of American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused, but that "it doesn't have the smarts or the depths of those ensemble comedies".[11] The Hollywood Reporter review was referenced in the film's DVD audio commentary, particularly the review's suggestion that the two main characters have a homoerotic experience similar to the film Y Tu Mama Tambien. [12] Adam Graham of The Detroit News said, "the cops belong in a bad Police Academy sequel, not this movie", and also that the film "falls short of teen-classic status."[13] Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel called the film "super-derivative", "super-raunchy", and "Freaks and Geeks: Uncensored". Moore went on to say the film shamelessly plagiarizes from movies such as Can't Hardly Wait and American Graffiti. He also said, "Like Knocked Up, this is a comedy they don't know how to end. The energy flags as it overstays its welcome." In August 2008, James Franco hinted there could be a crossover sequel film combining Superbad and another Seth Rogen film, Pineapple Express.[14] Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe said the film "has a degree more sophistication than Revenge of the Nerds and American Pie, and less than the underrated House Party". Morris also said, "the few smart observations could have come from an episode of one of Apatow's TV shows" and "I wanted to find this as funny as audiences did".[15] BooksTwo tie-in books to the film were published by Newmarket Press: Superbad: The Illustrated Moviebook was published on December 4, 2007 to coincide with the release of the film on DVD. This official companion book includes: an introduction by producer Judd Apatow; the complete script by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg; commentaries by Apatow, Rogen & Goldberg, and journalists from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and New York; 56 film stills; “Mr. Vagtastic Guide to Buying Porn;” and 24 phallographic drawings by David Goldberg that fans will recognize from the movie’s end credits. Superbad: The Drawings was published on February 14, 2008. This gift hardcover art book contains 82 phallographic drawings created by David Goldberg (Evan Goldberg’s brother) for the movie. SoundtrackAwardsNominated
Won
References
External links Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
CommentsNo comments have been added. |
Switch Language
Popular PagesEmail this PageSyndicate
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
