Superbad (film)
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| Superbad | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Greg Mottola |
| Produced by | Judd Apatow Evan Goldberg (executive) Shauna Robertson Seth Rogen (executive) Apatow Productions |
| Written by | Evan Goldberg Seth Rogen |
| Starring | Jonah Hill Michael Cera Chris Mintz-Plasse Bill Hader Seth Rogen |
| Music by | Lyle Workman |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 17, 2007 |
| Running time | Theatrical cut 113 min. Unrated cut 118 min. |
| Country |  |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million[1] |
| Gross revenue | Domestic $121,463,226 Foreign $48,397,429 Worldwide $169,860,655 |
| Official website | |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Superbad is a 2007 comedy film written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who began writing the script when they were both 13 years old. They completed a draft by age 15.[2] The film's main characters have the same given names as Rogen and Goldberg. The film is directed by former television director Greg Mottola and is produced by Judd Apatow, known for previously writing and directing The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up.
The film was a critical and commercial success, inspiring comparisons to Apatow's previous film, Knocked Up, which was released earlier in the summer.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) are friends in their final year of school about to leave for college. Seth's crush, Jules (Emma Stone), asks Seth to bring alcohol to a party she is hosting and he agrees, as their mutual friend, Fogell, (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) has recently acquired a fake ID and Evan invites his long time crush Becca (Martha MacIsaac) to the party.
While purchasing the alcohol, Fogell is assaulted by a hooded robber and the police are called. The two officers, Michaels (Seth Rogen) and Slater (Bill Hader), who appear to be fooled by the fake ID, offer Fogell a lift to the party, but make numerous stops first. The officers display many instances of incompetence, including drinking on the job, unnecessary use of police lights, and improper use of a firearm. They quickly become friends, referring to Fogell by the one-word name on his fake I.D., McLovin.
While the police officers are talking to Fogell at the liquor store, Seth is hit by a car and as compensation, the driver (Joe Lo Truglio) agrees to take them to a party, where they reason they can steal the alcohol they need. However, the driver is not welcome at the party and Seth and Evan are forced to leave, but not before smuggling out laundry detergent containers that have been filled with beer. They get into an argument about their friendship when Fogell, Slater, and Michaels happen to hit Seth with their police cruiser. As officer Slater prepares to bust the teens to cover up his own blunder, the boys flee into the night. The three finally arrive at Jules's party with the alcohol, still upset from their fight.
At the party, a drunken Becca attempts to have sex with Evan in a secluded upstairs room, but Evan backs down, and a heavily intoxicated Becca ends up vomiting. A drunken Seth attempts to explain his feelings for Jules, but passes out from the drink and accidentally head-butts her, giving her a black eye. Fogell successfully seduces Nicola (Aviva Farber) and gets her into bed, only to have officers Slater and Michaels break up the party. Seth, realizing Evan is passed out on a couch, carries his friend away and back to Evan’s house. They reconcile, thinking about everything they've been through as they've grown up. Officers Slater and Michaels reveal to Fogell that they were aware of his forgery all along, but they wanted to show him they were normal guys too. They pretend to haul him off to jail in front of the entire party to boost his popularity. In return, Fogell signs an affidavit to a concocted story to explain the condition of the wrecked police car which they proceed to have fun destroying.
The following morning, Evan and Seth run into Becca and Jules at the mall. After an awkward conversation about the mistakes of the previous night, Seth takes Jules to get cover up for her eye, while Evan takes Becca off to look for a replacement comforter for Jules. The two guys take a long, private look at each other before they part ways with their new friends.
[edit] Cast and Characters
- Jonah Hill - Seth
- Michael Cera - Evan
- Christopher Mintz-Plasse - Fogell/McLovin
- Bill Hader - Officer Slater
- Seth Rogen - Officer Michaels
- Martha MacIsaac - Becca
- Emma Stone - Jules
- Aviva Farber - Nicola
- Roger Iwami - Miroki
- Kevin Corrigan - Mark
- Joe Lo Truglio - Francis
- Clement Blake - Homeless Guy
- Casey Margolis - Young Seth
- Stacy Edwards - Evans Mom
- Joe Nunez - Liquor Store Clerk
- Erica Vittina Phillips - Mindy, Liquor Store Cashier
- Carla Gallo- Jacinda, Period Blood Girl
[edit] Reception
According to Box Office Mojo, the film opened at #1 at the U.S. box office, grossing $33,052,411 in its opening weekend in 2,948 theaters with an average of $11,212 per theater.[3] The film stayed at #1 the second week, grossing $18,044,369.[3] As of January 3, 2008, the film has grossed an estimated $121,463,226 domestically, and $48,327,429 overseas, for a total of $169,860,655 worldwide. Compared to the relatively small budget of $20 million, the film was a massive financial success. [1] The film is the highest domestic grossing high school comedy of all time.[4]
As of October 11, 2007, the film-critics aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes listed 87% positive reviews based on 174 reviews (151 "fresh", 23 "rotten") with the consensus that it was "an authentic take on the awkwardness of the high school experience." It also has an 86% Cream Of The Crop rating. [5] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 76% based on 36 reviews.[6].
Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle called it 2007's most successful comedy.[7] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 1/2 stars (out of 4) and said "The movie reminded me a little of National Lampoon's Animal House, except that it's more mature, as all movies are."[8] Carina Chocano of the Los Angeles Times said "Physically, Hill and Cera recall the classic comic duos -- Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Aykroyd and Belushi. But they are contemporary kids, sophisticated and sensitive to nuance"; she added, "I hope it's not damning the movie with the wrong kind of praise to say that for a film so deliriously smutty, Superbad is supercute".[9] Sean Burns of Philadelphia Weekly said "2007: the year Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen saved movie comedy", a reference to Knocked Up which was released in June.[10] Devin Gordon of Newsweek said "As a Revenge of the Nerds redux, Superbad isn't perfect. But it's super close."[11]
Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter, conversely, compared the film to the similar single-day structure of American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused, but that "it doesn't have the smarts or the depths of those ensemble comedies".[12] The Hollywood Reporter review was referenced in the film's DVD audio commentary, particularly the review's suggestion that the two main characters have a homoerotic experience similar to the film Y Tu Mama Tambien. [13] Adam Graham of The Detroit News said, "the cops belong in a bad Police Academy sequel, not this movie", and also that the film "falls short of teen-classic status."[14] Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel called the film "super-derivative", "super-raunchy", and "Freaks and Geeks: Uncensored". Moore went on to say the film shamelessly plagiarizes from movies such as Can't Hardly Wait and American Graffiti. He also said, "Like Knocked Up, this is a comedy they don't know how to end. The energy flags as it overstays its welcome."[15] Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe said the film "has a degree more sophistication than Revenge of the Nerds and American Pie, and less than the underrated House Party". Morris also said, "the few smart observations could have come from an episode of one of Apatow's TV shows" and "I wanted to find this as funny as audiences did".[16]
[edit] Books
Two tie-in books to the film were published by Newmarket Press:
Superbad: The Illustrated Moviebook was published on December 4, 2007 to coincide with the release of the film on DVD. This official companion book includes: an introduction by producer Judd Apatow; the complete script by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg; commentaries by Apatow, Rogen & Goldberg, and journalists from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and New York; 56 film stills; “Mr. Vagtastic Guide to Buying Porn;” and 24 phallographic drawings by David Goldberg that fans will recognize from the movie’s end credits.
Superbad: The Drawings was published on February 14, 2008. This gift hardcover art book contains 82 phallographic drawings created by David Goldberg (Evan Goldberg’s brother) for the movie.
[edit] Awards
MTV Movie Awards 2008
- Best Movie - Nominated
- Breakthrough Performance - Michael Cera, Johan Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse - Nominated.
- Best Comedic Performance - Jonah Hill - Nominated.
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2008
- Best Comedy Movie - Nominated.
- Best Young Actor - Michael Cera - Nominated.
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2007
- Most Promising Performer - Michael Cera - Won.
Empire Awards, UK 2008
- Best Comedy - Nominated.
Teen Choice Awards 2007
- Choice Summer Movie - Comedy/Musical - Nominated
[edit] References
- ^ a b Superbad (2007). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
- ^ Dylan Callaghan (2007-08-17). It's Funnier With People. Writer's Guild of America. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
- ^ a b Superbad (2007) - Weekend Box Office. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
- ^ Box Office Mojo: Charts - High School Comedy
- ^ Rotten Tomatoes: Superbad Retrieved 2007-09-03
- ^ Metacritic: Superbad Retrieved 2007-09-03
- ^ Mick LaSalle (2007-08-17). Review: Teens on a mission to buy booze in 'Superbad'. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Roger Ebert (2007-08-16). :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews :: Superbad. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Carina Chocano (2007-08-17). 'Superbad's' teen raunch isn't what's shocking; it's the love story. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Sean Burns. Geek Outlook. Philadelphia Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Devin Gordon (August 20-27, 2007 issue). Revenge of the Nerds. Newsweek. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ Stephen Farber (2007-08-07). Superbad. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ The DVD audio commentary on the Superbad: Unrated Extended Edition DVD.
- ^ Adam Graham (2007-08-16). Laughable roles. The Detroit News. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ Roger Moore (2007-08-17). 'Superbad' is super-derivative. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ Wesley Morris (2007-08-17). "It's a nerd, he's in pain -- it's Superbad". Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Official DVD site
- Superbad at the Internet Movie Database
- Superbad at Allmovie
- Superbad at Box Office Mojo
- Superbad at Rotten Tomatoes
- Superbad at Metacritic
- Comparison between Theatrical Version and Unrated Extended Edition
| Preceded by ''Rush Hour 3'' |
Box office number-one films of 2007 (USA) August 19, 2007 – August 26, 2007 |
Succeeded by ''Halloween'' |
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