Superbad

Superbad is neither super, nor completely bad. Bill (Jonah Hill) and Ben (Michael Cera) are nice guys. So much so that you end up willing them to get laid at last. But what good is that when the duo at the typewriter gives them such paper-rustling dialogs. They try so hard to be “obscene and natural about something important" like when Kevin Smith writes them, but they end up being obscene and about nothing. Just a little spiced up with a pop culture reference in every other sentence. But just for the sake of it, not because it fits. Another down point is the length. Not even the ending of The Return of the King drags on this long. This way a few really good scenes and ideas are drowned under a ton of filler. And not the flavored filler like you get at McDonald’s, but ordinary, flavorless filler from McLovin. P.S.: Any similarity with my review for Knocked Up is fully intentional. (14/06/2008)

American Pie triggered an avalanche of better and worse teen films. Some are worth it, while others are less so. Superbad is an example that nerds are still in style and can make you laugh simply by being stupid and trying to get laid. These two are also losers who think—especially the one played by Jonah Hill—that they are actually pretty cool, and every chick will want to hook up with them. It’s not that simple, and their ordinary attempt to get to a party and be the cool guys ultimately leads them into both comedic and tragic situations, but in the end, they come out with a clean slate. Seth Rogen also demonstrated that he has a talent for screenwriting, teaming up with his usual collaborator Evan Goldberg to produce a script that is funny if you like rougher humor, smart if you want more than just mindless drivel instead of comedy, and he also created two exemplary characters beautifully embodied by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, who are two of the new generation of not only capable comedians but also capable actors in general. I’m not one of those who will drool over the idea that the film is genius, but I still think something will stick with you after watching it. Maybe just those two stupid cops. (21/02/2013)

This traditional loser story about the loss of virginity works for the first twenty minutes or so when Seth quite humorously comments on all the hardships brought on by his futile efforts to score. But as the minutes tick by, it becomes clear that not everyone is destined to pull off an entire film based on vulgar humor. Unfortunately, Greg Mottola is one of those. The film lacks Kevin Smith's hardened sensibility and is thus increasingly bogged down in dysfunctional absurdities (the cop duo) that, especially thanks to the incomprehensibly overlong runtime, are painfully boring. American Pie remains undefeated. (23/11/2007)

Superbad is probably the best movie produced by Judd Apatow. It’s so earnest and depicts the problems of teenagers so aptly that it might move you to tears. It is a crazy comedy about the shenanigans of a couple of young guys, in which the innovative screenwriting ideas and dialogue might give you more “film pleasure” than the Coen brothers’ sophisticated humor. And not many teen comedies are able to do that. I want a sequel! I want more of Seth, Evan and Fogell! (17/03/2008)

This is such a crazy, stupid, filthy and incredibly funny comedy with great actors, I don't understand how I didn't know it until now. It's nothing intelligent, but I laughed so hard. There's not much more I can write about it, everyone needs to see this. It's similar to Project X, so fans should like it. (28/02/2020)