Superbad, the latest comedy from super-producer Judd Apatow, of 40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up fame, was penned by comedy's latest hot-property, Seth Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg when they were teenagers. The film is semi-biographical of their own experiences in High School and the film was written with the view to cast Mr Rogen as his younger self.
Directed by the relatively unknown Greg Mottola, the film follows childhood friends Seth and Evan (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera respectively) in their final days at school before they leave for college. The co-dependent pals get the chance to celebrate their impending graduation when Seths crush, Jules (Emma Stone), invites him to a party with only one request, that he obtains the alcohol for the event.
Luckily for Seth and Evan, who is also trying to woo his crush Becca (Martha MacIsaac), their friend Fogell (newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is due to pick up his new fake ID just in time to buy the liquor. Opting for the fake name McLovin on his new Hawaiian organ donor card, he attempts to buy liquor from the local store. Unluckily for the socially-awkward trio, his attempt is faltered by a robber who assaults the pseudonymed McLovin, and robs the tills of the store as he's paying.
When the cops, Officers Slater and Michaels (Bill Hader and Seth Rogen), are called to the scene, Seth and Evan fear the worst and resume their charge to find alcohol, minus the money that Jules gave them! Fogell, in the meantime, is practically kidnapped by the inept, irresponsible officers who take him drinking and shooting, which I'm sure you'll agree is not the best of combinations.
Set to a funky seventies soundtrack, the film isn't the highest of concepts, in fact the story is fairly simple and two-dimensional, but what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in great acting, fantastic dialogue and a story with an ultimately sweet message. The irreverent banter about porn sites and girls that recurs throughout the films is effortlessly hilarious.
Seth Rogen will have been disappointed to miss out on the role he wrote for himself, but Jonah Hill is fantastic in filling his shoes, bringing energy and believability to a crude character. Michael Cera is his usual twee self, hilariously awkward in every situation, and as Evan, is the restrictive Ego to Seth's impulsive Id. Christopher Mintz-Plasse does well for his first film as uber-geek Fogell, bringing a genuine likability to his social pariah character. Bill Hader and Seth Rogen are hilarious as the police officers who act more like fraternity brothers; drinking, shooting and generally abusing their power. Love interests Emma Stone and Martha MacIsaac are competent in their small roles, though there isn't much opportunity to challenge themselves.
Superbad is anything but. The teen buddy comedy has everything from witty dialogue to slapstick schtick, great characters with a real chemistry and an amazing script from the teenage Rogen and Goldberg. If anything, this movie is just plain super!