So I finally made it to the theaters to see Superbad. I say finally because I am a big Apatow/Rogan fan, from the Freaks and Geeks days. So really, I should have seen this already, plus it's totally my kind of movie, and by that I mean it's a "gross out teen comedy". But here's the thing, it's not. It's only disguised as a gross out teen comedy. It's really a very sweet look at two friends growing up. I'm not going to use this post to summarize the movie, as I'm sure you've seen the trailers, read the synopsis.
I will say that this movie took the genre up a notch, and (dare I go so far as to call it) a respectful teen comedy. What do I mean by respectful? Yes the characters, like many, are obsessed with having sex. Yes, they go to great lengths to impress their crushes, even though it seems that they are liked just fine at the beginning of the movie. But instead of the usual 2 hours of accidental run ins with strippers, spying on the hot neighbors undressing, etc, I am proud to say that Superbad didn't feature one exposed body part--no boobs, no butts-- (unless you count the naked girl on the porn magazine, which I don't). The other element I was so proud to see was a conversation about safe sex. Not done as a caution or lecture, but just as part of the conversation. The term "safe sex" wasn't even spoken, and it was treated as though this is part of the rule, not the exception. Condoms and spermicidal lubricant were just as important to the teens as the alcohol, but much easier to acquire, apparently.
So does this make Superbad better, more respectful of teens than teen flix of the past? I don't know. I'd like to think so, but I'm not sure that it will be strong enough to start a movement.
And not to end on an I told you so, but I knew Seth Rogan would be the breakout star of Freaks and Geeks, I just thought it was going to take longer. I am so glad it didn't. If anyone that knows these guys is reading this, please tell them I would be honored to work with them in any capacity. For more about Superbad, click here.
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I don't know, I haven't seen this movie yet, but I have a problem with a movie that averages an "F" word every 40 seconds of spoken dialog or something like that I read. I did love knocked up, but I hated "40 Year-Old Virgin" so I think I'm going to give it a try on DVD.
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