By Dave
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As a film student, I am often encouraged to watch a lot of arty films, and then analyse them in a pretentious and aloof manner. This, I love doing, as there is nothing I like to do more than to wave my intellectual willy around and show off to everyone what a clever clogs I am.
The thing is, I don’t actually like arty and pretentious films that much. No matter how much intricate mise-en-scene they throw at me, no matter how much the colour purple symbolises sexual tension, I can’t help shake the fact that arty films are pure nonsense that only appeal to about three people who enjoy smoking pipes whilst moaning about the fact there hasn’t been a good film since the 1927 Fritz Lang classic, Metropolis.
Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Metropolis in a ‘this is German and has no people speaking in it, and the story makes no sense’ kind of way, but I much prefer silly modern movies where people talk about sex and have amusing montages. I prefer films like Superbad.
And yes, before you point your accusing finger at me, I know that was a very tenuous link. However, this is a blog and I can write what I want, and with no word count, so I can indulge in whatever little fantasies I like. I love being an egomaniac.
Anyway, Superbad is a film written by Yogi bear lookalike Seth Rogen and his friend Evan Goldberg, and is about teens who just wanna have fun (and more importantly, sex). It follows two teens at the brink of leaving high school, and still without having sex. The protagonists (called, presumably after the writers themselves, Seth and Evan) are invited to a party by some girls they fancy, and are entrusted to supply the booze for the event. From this simple premise spirals an increasingly out of control day for our heroes as we witness their hapless antics.
So this is an average teen comedy with jokes about cocks then? Well yes and no. There are an abundance of jokes about the male member and it is a very sex orientated film, but it’s more than another American Pie rip off because it does something more- it creates real characters that are totally believable.
Usually in this type of film, the main characters are feeble caricatures of teenagers, with made up problems and acted by a 25 year old who can’t remember what being a teenager is really like. Seth and Evan are some of the most convincing film teen characters since The Breakfast Club. Seth is a bolshy guy who is totally hyped about the prospect of any kind of sexual interactivity, whereas Evan is a shy guy who can barely talk to girls without feeling awkward. No great shakes you may think from those descriptions, but the interaction between them is just spot on- they converse exactly like real teenagers. Not like film teens; real teens. It’s a small thing, but one that makes their friendship so much more believable.
This much was shown when Seth and Evan were split up for part of the movie- that was the only point in the movie it started to drag a little. Otherwise, I thought that the pacing and flow was brilliant, because of the chemistry between Seth and Evan.
So Superbad, worth a watch? If your bag is gross-out humour wrapped in brilliant characterisation, then it is definitely worth your money. Not into teen comedies? Then why the bloody hell have you read this? Go read some Graham Green.
