Superbad
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.
What critics thought
Superbad landed as one of the sharpest studio comedies of its era, winning over most critics with its balance of raunch and genuine feeling about male friendship — but a minority found it overlong, derivative of better films, and not quite as funny as its reputation suggests. The biggest split was over depth: admirers saw real emotional intelligence beneath the vulgarity, while skeptics thought it coasted on energy and shock value where American Graffiti or Dazed and Confused actually said something.
“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”
Carina Chocano·Los Angeles Times
“The energy flags as it overstays its welcome. The Apatow Rule, 'If it gets a laugh, don't cut it,' doesn't do movies under his banner any favors. Still, there are plenty of those laughs, from the ruder-than-rude opening to the ironic-sentimental ending.”
Roger Moore·Orlando Sentinel
“the few smart observations could have come from an episode of one of Apatow's TV shows”
Wesley Morris·The Boston Globe
“doesn't have the smarts or the depths of those ensemble comedies.”
Stephen Farber·The Hollywood Reporter
Genres
Comedy
Cast & Crew
Greg MottolaDirector
Jonah HillSeth
Michael CeraEvan
Christopher Mintz-PlasseFogell
Bill HaderOfficer Slater
Seth RogenOfficer Michaels
Martha MacIsaacBecca
Emma StoneJules
Aviva BaumannNicola
Joe Lo TruglioFrancis the Driver
Kevin CorriganMark
Clement BlakeHomeless Guy
Erica Vittina PhillipsLiquor Store Cashier
Lyle WorkmanComposer
Evan GoldbergWriterSeth RogenWriter
Russ T. AlsobrookCinematographySuperbad
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.
What critics thought
Superbad landed as one of the sharpest studio comedies of its era, winning over most critics with its balance of raunch and genuine feeling about male friendship — but a minority found it overlong, derivative of better films, and not quite as funny as its reputation suggests. The biggest split was over depth: admirers saw real emotional intelligence beneath the vulgarity, while skeptics thought it coasted on energy and shock value where American Graffiti or Dazed and Confused actually said something.
“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”
Carina Chocano·Los Angeles Times
“The energy flags as it overstays its welcome. The Apatow Rule, 'If it gets a laugh, don't cut it,' doesn't do movies under his banner any favors. Still, there are plenty of those laughs, from the ruder-than-rude opening to the ironic-sentimental ending.”
Roger Moore·Orlando Sentinel
“the few smart observations could have come from an episode of one of Apatow's TV shows”
Wesley Morris·The Boston Globe
“doesn't have the smarts or the depths of those ensemble comedies.”
Stephen Farber·The Hollywood Reporter
Genres
Comedy
Cast & Crew
Greg MottolaDirectorJonah HillSethMichael CeraEvanChristopher Mintz-PlasseFogellBill HaderOfficer SlaterSeth RogenOfficer MichaelsMartha MacIsaacBeccaEmma StoneJulesAviva BaumannNicolaJoe Lo TruglioFrancis the DriverKevin CorriganMarkClement BlakeHomeless GuyErica Vittina PhillipsLiquor Store CashierLyle WorkmanComposerEvan GoldbergWriterSeth RogenWriterRuss T. AlsobrookCinematography