Superbad (2007)

I guess I hadn't seen this movie in a while! I had forgotten how much I enjoy it. After re-watching the entire series of Arrested Development for the umpteenth time I was jonesing for more Michael Cera and Superbad really hit the spot. With a fantastic script penned by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg when they were teenagers, the movie follows best friends Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) on one of their last days of high school. The separation they'll experience as they go to different colleges is weighing on both their minds but neither will admit it, and instead spend most of their time talking about porn, girls, or sex. Seth's crush Jules (Emma Stone) is having a party that night and after learning their friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) got a fake ID, he promises to get the alcohol for her. The guys see this as an opportunity to hook up (not necessarily the having sex kind, more like making out? maybe? at least I hope so...) with the ladies they dig (Evan has the hots for Becca [Martha MacIsaac] and Fogell's got his eye on Nicola [Aviva]). Thus the fairly simple premise of "get beer for the party, score with the lady" is set up, but luckily the story goes into a lot more than encouraging one night stands.

When Fogell (aka McLovin, according to his new fake ID) goes to purchase the alcohol, he is attacked by a thief, prompting the arrival of the worst/best (depending on your position) cops ever, Officers Slater (Bill Hader) and Michaels (Seth Rogen). They take McLovin out for a night on the town, irreverent cop-style, and it is a smashing time with a lot of drinking! Meanwhile Seth and Evan, believing Fogell was arrested, set out to get the alcohol on their own, winding up at a grown-up party with crazy Joe Lo Truglio where they attempt to steal beer without getting killed by the violently-minded party guests. Eventually, of course, everyone ends up at Jules' party but I'll let you watch it and find out for yourselves how the boys' respective trysts go down.

Though laced with a simple enough premise, this movie is full of tons of crazy stuff, from penis drawings to shooting a car that is on fire to running really fast to eighty-dollar bills. The characters often refer to past occurrences, true to the nature of an 8-year friendship between teenagers. The situations are always unexpected (at least to me), making it fresh and funny and just a good time. Almost every line is quotable (though definitely not family-friendly), if you can keep up with the sharp, quick dialogue that feels pretty true though a little too good for real life.

The cast is excellent, of course, with great chemistry between Michael Cera and Jonah Hill- and since their friendship is central to the entire film, it is pretty important that it be believable. I love the cop characters the most though- hot damn somebody give Bill Hader his own movie already! The ladies are cute too, and unlike in so many high-school movies, they actually look 18-ish. Emma Stone is very likable and her Jules comes off as intelligent-sounding and down to earth, which is always appreciated in a female character (though it's unlikely she'd want to date Seth). Furthermore, the music is RAD and (can I say it?) funky fresh. Dig the soundtrack, a great mix of 70's tunes and original compositions by Lyle Workman. It has two awesome musical sequences: the opening credits and Michael Cera singing "These Eyes" (below).

4/5

"Too Hot to Stop"- The Bar Kays
"Funk McLovin"- Lyle Workman

These eyes cry every night! Foooor youuuu.