Jump to content

Superbad

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromSuperbad (film))
This article is about the 2007 film by Greg Mottola. For other uses, seeSuperbad (disambiguation).
"McLovin" redirects here. For the band, seeMcLovins.

Superbad
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGreg Mottola
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRuss Alsobrook
Edited byWilliam Kerr
Music byLyle Workman
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
Running time
113 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$17.5–20 million[3][4]
Box office$170.8 million[4]

Superbadis a 2007 Americancoming-of-ageteenbuddycomedy filmdirected byGreg Mottola,written bySeth RogenandEvan Goldberg,and produced byJudd Apatow.It starsJonah HillandMichael Ceraas Seth and Evan, two teenagers about to graduate fromhigh school.Before graduating, the boys want to party and lose theirvirginity,but their plan proves harder than expected.Christopher Mintz-Plasse,Rogen,Bill Hader,Martha MacIsaac,andEmma Stone(in her film debut) provide supporting roles.

Rogen and Goldberg wrote the script during their teenage years. It is loosely based on their experience in Grade 12 atPoint Grey Secondary SchoolinVancouverduring the 1990s. The main characters have the samegiven namesas the two writers. Rogen was also initially intended to play Seth, but due to age and physical size this was changed, and Hill went on to portray Seth, while Rogen portrayed the irresponsible Officer Michaels, oppositeSaturday Night Livestar Hader as Officer Slater.

Superbadpremiered atGrauman's Chinese Theatreon August 13, 2007. Upon release, the film received positive reviews, with critics praising the dialogue and the chemistry between the two leads as well as the performances of the supporting cast. The film also proved financially successful, grossing over $170 million on a $17.5–20 million budget. Retrospective reviews have acclaimed the film, with critics and fans ranking it among the bestteen filmsof the 2000s, and all time.[5][6][7]

Plot[edit]

Seth and Evan are childhood best friends and high schoolseniorsliving inClark Countywho are about to go off to different colleges. Seth's love interest, Jules, invites him to a party at her house. Seth and Evan's friend Fogell plans to obtain afake ID,so Seth promises to buy Jules alcohol for the party. Evan runs into his own love interest, Becca, and offers to get her a bottle of Gold Slick Vodka, a fictional brand based onGoldschlager.[8]

Despite the obviously fake ID, Fogell successfully buys the liquor under the mononym "McLovin", but is knocked out by a robber. When police officers Slater and Michaels arrive, Seth and Evan, who are outside, believe that Fogell is being arrested. In fact, the officers have agreed to give "McLovin" a ride to the party.

While outside the liquor store, Seth is hit by a motorist. In exchange for Seth and Evan not telling the police, the driver promises to take them to another party, where they can get alcohol. Meanwhile, Slater and Michaels take Fogell on a ride-along and then bond with him. Despite being on duty, they start drinking, use their sirens improperly, and shoot at a stop sign.

At the party, Seth fillslaundry detergentbottles from the basement with alcohol and dances with a drunk girl. She stains his leg withmenstrualblood, while a group of intoxicated men make Evan sing "These Eyes"for them. Seth is confronted by the party's host for dancing with his fiancée, and a brawl ensues; the police are called, while Seth and Evan escape.

Seth begins to chastise Evan for bailing on him; explaining that they had made childhood plans to go to college together but Evan got accepted intoDartmouth College.Evan retorts that Seth is selfish and has held him back for years, concluding he does not want Seth to slow him down anymore. As they begin to argue more, Seth is again hit by a car – the police cruiser driven by Slater and Michaels. They plan to pin the blame of the crash on Seth, but as Fogell emerges from the car, Evan makes a run for it, and Seth and Fogell escape with the alcohol. Eventually, all three make their way to Jules' party.

At the party, Fogell inadvertently reveals that he and Evan will be rooming together at college, upsetting Seth. Seth's stories of the night's antics make him popular, while Becca wants to have sex with Evan, who declines since she is drunk.

Meanwhile, Fogell impresses Nicola, aforeign exchange student,and goes upstairs to have sex with her. Seth drunkenly attempts to kiss Jules, but she turns him down because she neither drinks nor wants Seth while he is drunk. He believes he has ruined his chances with her, then passes out, accidentally headbutting Jules and giving her a black eye.

Slater and Michaels bust the party. Seth wakes up and escapes, carrying an intoxicated Evan. Slater busts in on Fogell and Nicola about to have sex, causing her to run off. Slater yells at Fogell for ditching them, but Michaels points out they just interrupted him. They apologize and reveal they knew all along that Fogell was underage but played along, wanting to show him that cops can have fun too. To make it up to Fogell, they handcuff him and make a spectacle of perp-walking him to their cruiser, which is highly effective in making him look "badass". They resume their bonding, eventually destroying their car with aMolotov cocktailwhile Fogell shoots it with Slater'sM1911 pistol.

Seth and Evan have a sleepover at Evan's, where Seth reveals that he learned weeks earlier that Evan and Fogell planned to live together at college. Evan admits he does not want to room with Fogell but is afraid to live with strangers. They apologize to each other before reconciling.

The next day, Seth and Evan visit the mall and run into Jules and Becca. Becca and Seth apologize for their drunken behavior, and the boys pair off with the girls: Seth takes Jules to buyconcealerfor the black eye he gave her, while Evan and Becca leave to buy acomforterto replace the one she drunkenly vomited on.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

Superbadwas written by Goldberg and Rogen during their teen years. It is loosely based on their own experience as seniors in Vancouver in the late 1990s, hence the character names Seth and Evan. Other characters and references were influenced by Goldberg and Rogen's adolescence, such as Steven Glanzberg, their peer at Point Grey Secondary School, characterized in the film as a loner.[9]According to an interview at an event panel in 2009, Fogell was also a real friend of Rogen and Goldberg. Rogen was initially slated to play Hill's character Seth, but due to his physical size and age, he played one of the police officers.[10]When asked where he wants to be dropped off, Fogell tells the officers to take him to 13th and Granville, a nod to Rogen and Goldberg's favorite all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant in Vancouver.[11]Superbadtook seven years to complete from early scripting in 2000 and filming from 2006 to 2007.[citation needed]Among the films that served as inspiration forSuperbadwereDazed and Confused,Fast Times at Ridgemont High,andAmerican Graffiti.[10]

Filming[edit]

The film was primarily shot in Los Angeles in 2006.[12]Exterior shots of the high school were filmed atEl Segundo High School.[13]The mall scenes were shot at theFox Hills MallinCulver City, California.[14]

Other filming locations include the convenience store at the beginning of the film, also in Culver City,[15]the liquor store where "McLovin" gets IDed inGlendale, California,[16]and the bar where the cops take McLovin for a drink is neighboringLos Angeles International Airport(LAX).[17]The scene where McLovin and the cops do donuts in the cop car was filmed in a parking lot on theCalifornia State University, Northridgecampus.

Mintz-Plasse was 17 at the time of filmingSuperbad,and as a result, his mother was required to be present on set during the filming of his sex scene.[18][19]

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

Seth RogenandEvan Goldbergat aSuperbadpanel atSan Diego Comic-Conin July 2007

Superbadopened at number one at the United States box office, grossing US$33,052,411 in its opening weekend from 2,948 theaters for an average of US$11,212 per theater.[20]The film stayed at#1 the second week, grossing US$18,044,369.[20]

The film grossed US$121.5 million in the United States and Canada and US$48.4 million in other countries, for a total of US$169.9 million worldwide. Compared to the budget of $17.5–20 million, the film earned a huge financial profit,[4][3]making it the highest domestic grossing high school comedy at the time (it was surpassed by21 Jump Street,a film also starring Hill, in 2012).[21]

Critical response[edit]

OnRotten Tomatoesthe film has an approval rating of 87% based on reviews from 207 critics, with an average rating of 7.40/10. The website's consensus reads, "Deftly balancing vulgarity and sincerity while placing its protagonists in excessive situations,Superbadis an authentic take on friendship and the overarching awkwardness of the high school experience. "[22]OnMetacritic,the film has a score of 76/100 based on 36 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]Audiences surveyed byCinemaScoregave the film a grade A− on scale of A to F.[24]

Mick LaSalle of theSan Francisco Chroniclecalled it 2007's most successful comedy.[25]Roger Ebertof theChicago Sun-Timeshad the headline of his review read "McLovin It", and gave the film 31⁄2out of 4 stars, and said "The movie reminded me a little ofNational Lampoon's Animal House,except that it's more mature, as all movies are. "[26]Carina Chocano of theLos Angeles Timessaid "Physically, Hill and Cera recall the classic comic duos—Laurel and Hardy,Abbott and Costello,AykroydandBelushi.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,Superbadis supercute. "[27]Sean Burns ofPhiladelphia Weeklysaid "2007: the year Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen saved movie comedy", a reference toKnocked Upwhich was released in June.[28]Devin Gordon ofNewsweeksaid "As aRevenge of the Nerdsredux,Superbadisn't perfect. But it's super close. "[29]

In a more critical vein, Stephen Farber ofThe Hollywood Reporter,compared the film to other films with a single-day structure, such asAmerican GraffitiandDazed and Confused,but said that Superbad "doesn't have the smarts or the depths of those ensemble comedies."[30]The Hollywood Reporterreview was referenced in the film's DVD audio commentary, particularly the review's suggestion that the two main characters have ahomoeroticexperience similar to the filmY Tu Mamá También.[31]Roger Moore of theOrlando Sentinelcalled the film a "super-derivative, super-raunchy sack of laughs" and a "great vulgarian send-off to the summer ofKnocked Up"that plays like"Freaks and Geeks:Uncensored."[32]Moore concluded, "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."[32]Wesley MorrisofThe Boston Globesaid the film "has a degree more sophistication thanRevenge of the NerdsandAmerican Pie,and less than the underratedHouse 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. "[33]

Accolades[edit]

The film was listed as#487 onEmpire's 500 Greatest films of all time.[34]

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2007 Austin Film Critics Association Awards Breakthrough Artist Michael Cera Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Comedy Movie Superbad Nominated
Best Young Actor Michael Cera Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Most Promising Performer Michael Cera Won
Empire Awards Best Comedy Superbad Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer Movie – Comedy/Musical Superbad Nominated
2008 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Writing Seth Rogen Won
Best Male Performance Michael Cera Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Comedic Performance Jonah Hill Nominated
Best Movie Superbad Nominated
Breakthrough Performance Michael Cera Nominated
Jonah Hill Nominated
Christopher Mintz-Plasse Nominated
Peabody Awards Best New Comedy Performance Superbad Nominated
Young Hollywood Awards Exciting New Face Emma Stone Won

Home media[edit]

Superbadwas released onDVD,UMDandBlu-rayon December 4, 2007.[3][35]

Legacy[edit]

Retrospectively since its release, it has garnered acclaim as one of the best comedies of the 2000s and as one of the best high school movies of all time. It has been hailed as one of the defining movies of theMillennial generation.[36][37]

Books[edit]

Two tie-in books to the film were published byNewmarket Press:

  • Superbad: The Illustrated Moviebook(ISBN9781557047984) was published on December 4, 2007, to coincide with the release of the film on DVD. This official companion book includes an introduction by producerJudd Apatow;the complete script bySeth RogenandEvan Goldberg;commentaries by Apatow, Rogen and Goldberg, and journalists fromRolling Stone,The New York Times,andEntertainment Weekly;56 film stills; "Mr. Vagtastic Guide to Buying Porn;" and 24 "phallographic" drawings by David Goldberg that viewers will recognize from the film's end credits.
  • Superbad: The Drawings(ISBN9781557048080) 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 film.

Soundtrack[edit]

Main article:Superbad (soundtrack)

References[edit]

  1. ^Netburn, Deborah (August 14, 2007)."'Superbad' premiere chock-full of comedic superstars ".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedDecember 26,2022.
  2. ^"Superbad(15) ".British Board of Film Classification.July 5, 2007.RetrievedJune 1,2019.
  3. ^abc"Superbad (2007) – Financial Information".The Numbers.
  4. ^abc"Superbad (2007)".Box Office Mojo.IMDb.
  5. ^"The 12 Best Teen Movies of All Time, Ranked According to Letterboxd".Collider.RetrievedJune 26,2024.
  6. ^"The Best 2000s Teen Movies - What Is the Best Movie of the 2000s?".Seventeen.RetrievedJune 26,2024.
  7. ^"The 50 Best Teen Movies".Empire.RetrievedJune 26,2024.
  8. ^https://x.com/Sethrogen/status/898365117594824705?lang=en
  9. ^"Seth Rogen's Vancouver high school misadventures hit the big screen".CBC News.August 17, 2007.
  10. ^abMoore, Roger (August 17, 2007)."If you want to be 'Superbad,' you'd better learn from the best".Orlando Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2022.RetrievedDecember 26,2022.
  11. ^Rogen, Seth [@Sethrogen] (June 24, 2019)."It's also where the all you can eat sushi place that we used to go to all the time in high school was"(Tweet).RetrievedApril 5,2021– viaTwitter.
  12. ^"Where was Superbad (2007) Filmed".Wwifdb.com. August 17, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  13. ^"Superbad (2007) – High School Exterior".Wwifdb.com. Archived fromthe originalon September 18, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  14. ^"Superbad (2007) – The Mall".Wwifdb.com. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  15. ^"Superbad (2007) – Convenience Store".Wwifdb.com. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  16. ^"Superbad (2007) – McLovin get's ID-ed".Wwifdb.com. Archived fromthe originalon February 10, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  17. ^"Cops take McLovin to a bar".Wwifdb.com. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  18. ^"Is this it?".The Guardian.January 16, 2009.RetrievedJuly 24,2016.
  19. ^Andrew Buss (August 17, 2022).""It's Either Going to Be Really Funny, or They're Going to Be Horrified": An Oral History of Superbad ".Vanity Fair.RetrievedSeptember 2,2022.
  20. ^ab"Superbad (2007) – Weekend Box Office".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedSeptember 24,2007.
  21. ^"Charts – High School Comedy".Box Office Mojo.Archived fromthe originalon July 10, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 27,2013.
  22. ^"Superbad (2007)".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedMarch 10,2022.
  23. ^"Superbad".metacritic.RetrievedSeptember 3,2007.
  24. ^"Cinemascore".Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2018.
  25. ^LaSalle, Mick (August 16, 2007)."Review: Teens on a mission to buy booze in 'Superbad'".San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedDecember 22,2021.
  26. ^Ebert, Roger(August 16, 2007)."Reviews:: Superbad".RogerEbert.com.
  27. ^Chocano, Carina (August 17, 2007)."'Superbad's' teen raunch isn't what's shocking; it's the love story ".Los Angeles Times.Archived fromthe originalon August 24, 2007.RetrievedAugust 19,2007.
  28. ^Burns, Sean (August 15, 2007)."Geek Outlook".Philadelphia Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2007.
  29. ^Gordon, Devin (August 20, 2007)."Revenge of the Nerds".Newsweek.Archived fromthe originalon August 28, 2007.
  30. ^Farber, Stephen (August 7, 2007)."Superbad".The Hollywood Reporter.Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2007.RetrievedAugust 21,2007.
  31. ^The DVD audio commentary on theSuperbad: Unrated Extended EditionDVD.
  32. ^abMoore, Roger (August 17, 2007)."It's like an uncensored version of Freaks & Geeks".Orlando Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2021.RetrievedDecember 26,2022.
  33. ^Morris, Wesley (August 17, 2007)."It's a nerd, he's in pain – it'sSuperbad".The Boston Globe.RetrievedAugust 21,2021.
  34. ^"500 Greatest films of all time".Empire.RetrievedJuly 4,2021.
  35. ^Fienberg, Daniel (December 4, 2007)."DVD Review: 'Superbad'".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedDecember 26,2022.
  36. ^Lu, Garry (July 30, 2021)."Why 'Superbad' Is The Greatest Millennial Comedy Of All Time".Boss Hunting.
  37. ^"Readers' Poll: The 10 Funniest Movies of the 2000s".Rolling Stone.July 30, 2014.

External links[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related toSuperbad.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Superbad&oldid=1232842993"