I doubt I have to explain the plot of “Superbad” as just about everyone our age knows this movie, but I will anyway because it’s great. “Superbad,” starring Jonah Hill as Seth and Michael Cera as Evan, is a comedy following two seniors as they finish up their last year of high school. Throughout the film, we feel the tension as the two boys begin to accept and realize that soon, they’ll be living in different states going to different schools, having never previously been apart. This is playing out as they’re trying to get alcohol for a party that night in hopes of getting with their crushes.
This movie is inexplicably funny and I really don’t know how better to describe the humor; it’s just hilarious. Where this film shines is in its heartfelt backdrop. The relationship between Seth and Evan is beautiful and something that many people are able to relate to. The movie was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, two best friends who grew up with one another in Canada. They began writing the screenplay when they were just 13 and ultimately finished it in their 20s, which is also when they realized the core of the film was the relationship between the best friends.
The chemistry between Cera and Hill was incredible and felt very natural, almost like that between Rogen and Goldberg. Along with that, many have praised the riffing between Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who played Fogel, also known as McLovin. It was revealed that Hill truly disliked Mintz, which was a strong reason Mintz was hired for the role, making the fighting between the two characters feel even more genuine.
Ultimately, the clear focus on the relationship between Seth and Evan, as opposed to what they wanted you to think the focus was, being sex and partying, made this movie stronger than other high school movies. It often seems that adults graduate high school and completely forget what it was like. While teens certainly talk and act like all they’re interested in is partying, their relationships are more important. This movie, again probably due to having been written by guys throughout high school and then not long after they graduated, doesn’t fit this stereotype.
Most high school movies fall into the trap of creating distinct cliques into which the students fit. “Superbad” got it right when they instead opted to focus on how individuals viewed and treated one another. We are made aware that Seth and his two friends weren’t “cool kids,” but it wasn’t as though they couldn’t interact with those who were more popular. Along with that, a lot of the more popular kids were actually nice and not douchebags like in every other high school movie.
The realism in this movie is another domain it stands out in. The characters feel real while still being absurd enough to create funny scenes. The characters are distinct and mimic people we knew in high school. Certainly, the most unrealistic part of the film is the two cops, but even their ridiculous adventures with McLovin didn’t take me out of the movie at any point.
Another thing that’s refreshing and realistic about this movie is that it doesn’t end on an impossibly happy note. The problem isn’t solved by figuring out a way that the two guys can remain friends after high school, nor is it implied that they do. While this is heartbreaking when you think about it, it’s often the reality for childhood friendships. What’s great is that the viewer isn’t left with a negative view of this, the two will go off to their respective schools, make friends there and never forget the time they spent together.
The movie captures this terrifying and difficult point in life when we leave behind something we didn’t care much for in the first place, but upon leaving we know we can never go back. We know that the only life we’ve known is coming to an end and changing. It’s hard to imagine a film with as many sex jokes as this one can also be dealing with such a tough universal experience, but it does. Because of this, this movie also stands the test of time, as it didn’t rely on any era specific references that often turn annoying. This may be due to the extended time it took to write the film, but that’s just speculation. There is some disagreement about how well some of the jokes hold up, but that’s up to the individual.
Overall, this film is the best and most realistic movie that explores life in high school, particularly as a senior about to graduate. Not only is this one of the funniest movies I’ve seen, but it has a real core to it that we see throughout the movie, not just thrown in at the end.